1. Personalization and User Profile Management for Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs) ETSI TC HF, STF PX on Extending e-Inclusion for Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs) Work funded by the EC/EFTA
Mike Pluke
HTF, 20 March 2006 at ETSI Sophia Antipolis
Behind every instance of personalisation is a "user profile" that stores details of the user, their preferences and other information that can be used to deliver to the user an experience that is tailored to their individual requirements. We will present and discuss our current efforts at creating guidelines for user profile management in information and communications technologies.
25-Feb-19
ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

2.  ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles
How can Public Internet Access Points behave in a way that suit all users?
Current situation
Frequently, the choice of cultural options must be done manually and each time a service is used. In some cases, for example when using online services from the same terminal, the service may save (on the user’s PC) cookies that contain language preferences in order to relieve the user from selecting a language option each time it is used. However, when using the online service from another terminal, the service will again require the user to choose a language option. When using a new device or a new service, users need to select the preferred language if the user’s preference is different from the default language of the device or service.
Some services allow the user to personalize the service by defining their cultural and linguistic preferences in a service specific profile. The problem with this solution is that users need to define their preferences many times – once for each service. Each time it may be necessary for the user to find out how to do this. This solution is not convenient if users wish to update their language preferences because they would have to remember each instance of their service specific profile that needs to be updated.
These solutions do not take account of users’ different needs in various situations and roles.
7.2 Ideal situation
Instead of frequently having to choose language options, users should be able to define their cultural preferences and capabilities (see clause 6.9, “User language capabilities portfolio”) only once in their user profile [15]. This would enable devices, services and people they wish to communicate with, access to their preferences in order to provide content and services presented in a way that suit their needs. A language preference set in a user profile should be capable of being overridden by the user at any time.
The user profile concept provides the users with a means to define their language and cultural options in a flexible way that meets their requirements in a range of situations and roles. The most flexible solution for defining language preferences is to have the ability to define rules in a user profile, see clause 7.x.x on “Rules”.
Some existing technologies could be significantly enhanced when combined with the user profile concept. Speech (see clause 4.x.x.x on “Speech recognition”) and automatic language recognition technologies (see clause 4.x.x.x on “Automatic language selection”) could be made more accurate and efficient by limiting the recognition to the languages defined in the user profile.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

3. What may PIAP users need?
The PIAP user may wish the PIAP to
recognise their identity
configure the input/output settings to meet their preferences
provide them with top-level options that relate to their own individual circumstances;
etc.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

4. How can PIAPs and services know users’ individual needs and preferences?
User Profiles provide services and devices with user defined preferences
Current situation
Frequently, the choice of cultural options must be done manually and each time a service is used. In some cases, for example when using online services from the same terminal, the service may save (on the user’s PC) cookies that contain language preferences in order to relieve the user from selecting a language option each time it is used. However, when using the online service from another terminal, the service will again require the user to choose a language option. When using a new device or a new service, users need to select the preferred language if the user’s preference is different from the default language of the device or service.
Some services allow the user to personalize the service by defining their cultural and linguistic preferences in a service specific profile. The problem with this solution is that users need to define their preferences many times – once for each service. Each time it may be necessary for the user to find out how to do this. This solution is not convenient if users wish to update their language preferences because they would have to remember each instance of their service specific profile that needs to be updated.
These solutions do not take account of users’ different needs in various situations and roles.
7.2 Ideal situation
Instead of frequently having to choose language options, users should be able to define their cultural preferences and capabilities (see clause 6.9, “User language capabilities portfolio”) only once in their user profile [15]. This would enable devices, services and people they wish to communicate with, access to their preferences in order to provide content and services presented in a way that suit their needs. A language preference set in a user profile should be capable of being overridden by the user at any time.
The user profile concept provides the users with a means to define their language and cultural options in a flexible way that meets their requirements in a range of situations and roles. The most flexible solution for defining language preferences is to have the ability to define rules in a user profile, see clause 7.x.x on “Rules”.
Some existing technologies could be significantly enhanced when combined with the user profile concept. Speech (see clause 4.x.x.x on “Speech recognition”) and automatic language recognition technologies (see clause 4.x.x.x on “Automatic language selection”) could be made more accurate and efficient by limiting the recognition to the languages defined in the user profile.
ETSI Guide (EG) on User Profile Management
see
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

5. What is a User Profile? User and context information used to deliver:
appropriate services and content,
in a format tailor-made to users’ needs.
Profiles contain data describing:
User information
User’s preferences (e.g. language and cultural), settings, rules and state changes related to:
services
terminals
communications.
The profile tool and templates are useful when defining the profile data.
What is a profile?
A user profile contains user and context information used to deliver appropriate services and content, in a format tailor-made to the user’s needs.
More technically, user profiles contain data describing:
The user’s preferences including
characteristics
abilities
needs.
2. Settings, rules and state changes related to
user profile management system
services
terminals
communications.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

6.  ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles
Permanent / Situation dependent profiles Example Special need - listen to text
A blind person or a child who cannot yet read might prefer listening to text.
The permanent profile
”Listen to Text”/“Blind” provides this service.
A person driving a car might prefer listening to text.
The situation dependent profile
“Car” provides this service.
Example – Multimodality
Special need - listen to text
This example illustrates a wider view of "special needs", which is normally addressing the needs of disabled people or children. This example shows how visually impaired people and young children who cannot yet read both have a preference "listen to text" The permanent profile ”Listen to Text”/“Blind” would provide the young child or visually impaired person with this service.
The example also shows that the special need "listen to text" applies to a person driving a car who will obviously prefer listening to text. The situation-dependent profile “Car” provides the person with this service. This situation-dependent profile “Car” may be automatically activated when the driver uses the car handsfree and an event is sent to trigger the automatic activation.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

7. Wider use of preferences
related profile fields for other devices or services can be populated by the same data.
Define once - use in many terminals and services
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 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

8.  ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles
Where are the profiles?
Where are the profiles located?
Users will not have to think of where their profile data is stored. A profile tool will do that for them and offer an interface that is easy to understand and use.
The reality may be more complex and the profile information may be stored and distributed at different locations such as in a mobile phone, PC, PDA, Smart Card, services, servers on the internet and be available centrally from profile providers.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

9. Situation dependent profiles
When users’ needs and preferences vary according to the situation/context, they can be matched by situation dependent profiles
At all times the most relevant profile for a specific situation or user role needs to be active.
Situation dependent profiles
Profiles related to specific situations and/or user roles needs to be active.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

10. Situation dependent profiles
A profile related to a specific situation or user role needs to be active
Problem
Forget to activate a suitable profile
Forget to “reset” to a suitable profile
Laziness ;-)
Consequence
Poor outcome when the wrong profile is active
Solution?
Situation dependent profiles
Profiles related to specific situations and/or user roles needs to be active.
However, there are some problems. People may forget to activate a suitable profile or they forget to “reset” to a suitable profile and, honestly, I admit that I am a bit lazy. I do not want to manually activate my profiles several times a day.
The consequence if the wrong profile is active may be a very poor outcome.
So, what is the solution? Let’s see next slide…
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

11. Automatic activation of profiles
Users could define activation rules according to their activities and make use of different means such as events from:
time schedules
accessories
external applications
physical sensors/transmitters
location based services
Automatic activation of profiles
A key solution to the problem of people forgetting to manually activate or de-activate their different profiles as their situation changes is automatic activation of profiles. Users could define activation rules according to their activities and make use of different means such as events from:
time schedules
accessories
external applications
physical sensor/transmitter
location based services
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

12. Example - Profiles with automatic activation
Example - Profiles with automatic activation (A day-in-the-life)
House: Your home profile is active and communications are directed to your home fixed phone. You may also have various settings related to different products at home such as “preferred language” for communications and for spoken language and subtitles in films…
Leave house: Your intelligent key activates the “Out” profile, door and shutters are closed, the alarm is activated, heating is set to energy-saving mode, and communications are directed to your mobile phone…
Driving: Your intelligent car key (or “mobile hands free”) activates your “Driving” profile, calls are now directed to the car mobile, s will be spoken, seat and mirrors are adjusted, favourite radio channel is selected. You can receive information (e.g. from the navigation system) in your preferred language. Speed could be presented in miles/hour or Km/hour.
Arrive at Office: When your mobile phone is put in the desk charger it activates your “Office” profile. The “large fonts” preference is activated on the PC, your preferred language is set, calls will be directed to your office fixed phone…
Meeting: Your on-line agenda says meeting Thursday and activates the meeting profile at that time. The meeting profile sets your mobile phone to silent mode, calls will be directed to voice mail but an exception is made that allows your most important client to phone as you hope to sign an important contract very soon. People could hear your message in your voice mail in their language. …
Driving home from work: as Driving above, plus the heating of your home is set to Comfort.
Night: A time schedule saying that from Sun to Thu, Fri, Sat: No calls allowed, heating should be set to “Energy saving mode”, shutters will be closed.
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles

13.  ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles
Thank you! Questions?
25-Feb-19
 ETSI – Multicultural and Language Preferences in User Profiles