Configuration agents, control and privacy

Abstract

When a truly diverse community of users is considered, it is clear that a single interface, no matter how well designed, cannot accommodate everyone. Configuring an interface to match a particular user's requirements can be a demanding task. This paper focuses on the potential utility of configuration agents to support users with low initial levels of control, or low levels of knowledge about configuration. The relationship between configuration of systems by agents, user control, and user privacy is discussed. It is argued that privacy issues are of primary importance, and suggestions are made for ways to apply agent technologies to the configuration problem without compromising user control and privacy. Work in progress to inform and further develop these issues is described.