LONG PAPER Towards standardisation of user models for simulation and adaptation purposes N. Kaklanis • P. Biswas • Y. Mohamad • M. F. Gonzalez • M. Peissner • P. Langdon • D. Tzovaras • C. Jung Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 Abstract The use of user models can be very valuable when trying to develop accessible and ergonomic products and services taking into account users’ specific needs and preferences. Simulation of user–product interaction using user models may reveal accessibility issues at the early stages of design and development, and this results to a significant reduction in costs and development time. Moreover, user models can be used in adaptive interfaces enabling the personalised customisation of user interfaces that enhances the accessibility and usability of products and services. This paper presents the efforts of the Virtual User Modelling and Simulation Standardisation ‘VUMS’ cluster of projects towards the development of an interoperable user model, able to describe both able-bodied and people with various kinds of disabilities. The VUMS cluster is consisted by the VERITAS, MyUI, GUIDE, and VICON FP7 European projects, all involved in user modelling from different perspectives. The main goal of the VUMS cluster was the development of a unified user model that could be used by all the participant projects and that could be the basis of a new user model standard. Currently, within the VUMS cluster, a common user model has been defined and converters that enable the transformation from each pro- ject’s specific user model to the VUMS user model and vice versa have been developed enabling, thus, the exchange of user models between the projects. Keywords User modelling Á Virtual user model Á Simulation Á Adaptation Á Accessibility Á Usability 1 Introduction In our everyday life, we use plenty of gadgets offering a variety of services, especially considering electronic devi- ces. The enormous number of features often turns over- whelming for older users or users with disabilities and may make devices unusable. Similarly, in providing accessi- bility for digital devices, it often turns problematic to select the appropriate way to provide it. The issue becomes more pertinent for selecting the appropriate accessibility device. At present, there is no way of choosing appropriate accessibility options for different users and media except a case-by-case analysis, which is not a scalable approach. Furthermore, there exists a gap between mainstream sys- tem designers and accessibility practitioners in terms of universal or inclusive design. Mainstream designers often assume inclusivity as another ‘TopUp’ feature and under- estimate its need. On the other hand, accessibility practi- tioners often work for specific types of disability and application. This paper presents a concept of using user models in both design time and run-time to personalise a N. Kaklanis (&) Á D. Tzovaras Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece e-mail: kaklanis@gmail.com P. Biswas Á P. Langdon Department of Engineering, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Y. Mohamad Fraunhofer FIT, 53754 Sankt, Augustin, Germany M. F. Gonzalez INGEMA, Donostia, Spain M. Peissner Fraunhofer IAO, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, German C. Jung Fraunhofer IGD, Darmstadt, Germany 123 Univ Access Inf Soc DOI 10.1007/s10209-014-0371-2