Project description
Artificial users for human-like behaviour simulation
Understanding human performance with user interfaces remains a challenge. Computational models are limited, and while progress has been made, the scope remains restricted. The ERC-funded Artificial User project aims to develop a foundation for simulating human-like behaviour in human-computer interaction (HCI) using computational rationality. The project involves creating a simulator that generates human-like behaviour based on a given design and task environment. It aims to develop ‘artificial users’ that can be controlled using natural language commands. Additionally, the project seeks to advance generative modelling in HCI by combining theory-driven causal assumptions about human behaviour with modern machine learning techniques. This approach is expected to significantly impact design and engineering applications in HCI.
Objective
PROBLEM: Despite decades of research on human-computer interaction (HCI), the problem of how to predict human performance with a given user interface (UI) is unsolved. Existing computational models are limited in scope or require large datasets or expert input. Instead, empirical methods are used that are costly and error-prone.
OBJECTIVE: This project establishes the foundations of simulation intelligence in HCI through computational rationality. Given a design and a task environment, a simulator generates human-like moment-to-moment behavior autonomously, from which key metrics can be computed, i.e. for learning, performance, and ergonomics. ”Artificial users” can be commanded using natural language without modeling expertise.
APPROACH: We seek a breakthrough through the theory of computational rationality that would dramatically expand the models’ scope and actionability. The theory posits that interactive behavior is an emergent consequence of a control policy adapted to internal bounds (cognition) and rewards. While previous work has demonstrated progress, scope has been limited to simple sensorimotor tasks and required reward engineering. This project will study the principles of computationally rational agents that learn skills like humans, can operate autonomously and yet be commanded via natural language. We design a workflow for building dramatically larger models via self-supervised pretraining.
IMPACT: We develop a strong complement to existing evaluation methods in HCI. The pushes forward generative modeling in HCI by combining theory-driven causal assumptions about people and modern ML, while being deployed directly in high-fidelity simulators. This allows dealing with novel task environments with higher accuracy. This will be a leap forward in applications of design and engineering (rapid evaluation) and ML (realistic synthetic data) in HCI.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.