An Interoperable and Inclusive User Modeling Concept for Simulation and Adaptation

User models can be considered as explicit representations of the properties of an individual user including user’s needs, preferences as well as physical, cognitive and behavioral characteristics. Due to the wide range of applications, it is often difficult to have a common format or even definition of user models. The lack of a common definition also makes different user models – even if developed for the same purpose -incompatible to each other. It does not only reduce the portability of user models but also restricts new models to leverage benefit from earlier research on similar field. This chapter presents a brief literature survey on user models and concept of an interoperable user model that takes a more inclusive approach than previous research. It is an initiative of the EU VUMS cluster of projects which aims to simulate user interaction and adapt interfaces across a wide variety of digital and non-digital platforms for both able bodied and disabled users. We have already been successful to define an application and platform-independent user model exchange format and the importing of any user profile across all projects.