WeBIUM 2nd Workshop on Wearable Devices and Brain-Computer Interfaces for User Modelling (WeBIUM) @UMAP 2024

Objectives Topics Program Committee Important Dates Program Organizers Invited Talk

DESCRIPTION

Wearable Devices (WDs), such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, continuously produce extensive data streams that reveal valuable information about physiological states, activity patterns, and user interactions. These devices enable the construction of advanced user models, offering dynamic insights into personal routines, health trends, and behavioural tendencies. Meanwhile, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) emerge as a transformative technology by capturing neural activity to provide unprecedented access to cognitive and emotional states. However, BCIs are not conventionally classified as wearables; the latest technological advancements have reduced their size to resemble everyday accessories like earphones, suggesting their potential integration into wearable formats in the near future.
Despite the promise of these technologies, the full exploitation of their data for user modelling and personalization—such as optimizing activities like media consumption or interaction design—remains underexplored. The convergence of WDs and BCIs opens up new avenues for understanding the complexity of human behaviour and preferences, and this potential is amplified by the integration of Large Language Models ( LLMs). By synthesizing and interpreting multimodal datasets, LLM s can better understand the intricate interplay between physiological, cognitive, and behavioural signals, ultimately enriching user modelling processes. Following the success of the first edition, this workshop seeks to delve into the deep impact of combining data from wearable devices, neural interfaces, and advanced machine learning models. Participants will explore the opportunities and challenges that arise in this innovative context, examining how these echnologies can be harnessed to enhance the granularity and accuracy of user models. The discussions will also address practical implications, such as ethical considerations and the necessity of privacy-aware approaches when dealing with highly sensitive physiological and neural data.
Through collaborative exchanges, the initiative aspires to chart new directions in the field, fostering novel research trajectories and interdisciplinary partnerships. The interplay of WDs, BCIs, and LLMs can redefine user modelling by creating systems that dynamically adapt to individual needs and behaviours, paving the way for transformative advancements in personalized experiences. By drawing on cutting-edge research and practical expertise, the workshop aims to inspire innovative solutions that capitalize on these emerging synergies, advancing the boundaries of what is possible in user modelling and adaptive systems.

OBJECTIVES

The 2nd Workshop on Wearable Devices and Brain-Computer Interfaces for User Modelling (WeBIUM) is dedicated to exploring the comprehensive utilization of data derived from Wearable Devices (WDs), Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and LLM systems to elevate the user experience through enhanced user profiling and modelling. The primary aim of this workshop is to stimulate research initiatives that integrate wearable devices (WDs) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to acquire real-time biological data, thereby enhancing the precision of user profiling techniques. WeBIUM is dedicated to driving advancements in user modeling methodologies, with the ultimate goal of optimizing user engagement and satisfaction by providing personalization algorithms with highly accurate contextual and user-specific information. This mission aligns closely with the findings and perspectives outlined in recent literature. The workshop seeks to create a platform for in-depth discussions and collaborative knowledge exchange among researchers and industry professionals, focusing on the development and application of solutions leveraging data from WDs and BCIs. Specifically, the objectives of the workshop are to:

Share cutting-edge research and methodologies encompassing new design technologies and evaluation approaches
Identify and address forthcoming challenges in the interdisciplinary realm of WDs, BCIs, and AI
Analysis and mitigation of emerging scientific and technological challenges involving the analysis of data from WDs and BCIs and processed through LLM
Recognize emerging issues that warrant attention within the broader field

By providing a place for interdisciplinary collaboration and building on the first edition’s success, the WeBIUM second edition aspires to enhance a community dedicated to leveraging WD and BCI data for user profiling. We encourage active participation from researchers and practitioners alike, fostering an environment conducive to collaborative exploration and the exchange of innovative ideas.

TOPICS

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Signal processing methods for wearable sensor data
Machine and Deep learning algorithms for user behaviour analysis from WD and BCI data
Real-time data processing challenges and solutions
Privacy concerns in collecting and analyzing WD and BCI data
Security measures for protecting user data from WDs
Ethical implications of using WD and BCI data for personalized experiences
Development of user models based on WD and BCI data
Personalization strategies for improving user profiles
Challenges in creating accurate and dynamic user profiles based on WDs and BCIs
User modelling in immersive digital environments
User acceptance and adoption of WDs and BCIs
Security aspects of using WDs for personal and environmental data
Advanced Feature Modeling Architectures for WDs and BCIs
Model interpretability in WD and BCI applications
Evaluation metrics tailored for predictive models in the context of WDs and BCIs
Innovative methodologies for user studies in wearable technologies
Ethical considerations in conducting user studies exploring WDs and BCIs

CATEGORIES OF SUBMISSIONS

Long Research Papers: These are reserved for reports on mature original research results. The expected length of a long paper submission should be in the range of 8-14 pages of content, plus up to 3 pages for references.
Short Research Papers: Authors may choose this category if they wish to report on smaller case studies or ongoing original research efforts. The expected length of a short paper submission should be in the range of 4-7 pages of content, plus up to 2 pages for references.
Position Papers: These deal with novel unexplored research ideas or viewpoints which describe trends or fruitful starting points for future research and elicit discussion. The expected length of a position paper submission should be 2 pages of content, plus up to 2 pages for references.
Demo Submissions – System Papers: Authors who wish to demonstrate their system may choose this category and provide a description of their system and demo. The expected length of a demo/system paper submission should be up to 5 pages of content, plus up to 2 pages for references.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Hasan Ayaz - Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
Yehia Ibrahim - University of Liverpool, UK
Yalin Zheng - University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, UK
Daniele Malitesta - Centralesupelec, Université Paris-Paclay, Paris, France
Tiago Falk, University of Quebec, Canada
Andrea Pazienza, NTT DATA Italia SpA
Noemi Mauro, University of Torino
Eelco Herder, Utrecht University
Carmelo Antonio Ardito - Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy
Liliana Ardissono - University of Torino, Italy
Alejandro Bellogin - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
Maria Bielikova - Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies, Slovakia
Elvira Brattico - Aarhus University, Denmark
Giuseppe D’Aniello - Università of Salerno, Italy
Berardina DeCarolis - University of Bari Aldo Moro, Dept. of Computer Science, Italy
Marco de Gemmis - University of Bari Aldo Moro, Dept. of Computer Science, Italy
Fabio Gasparetti - Artificial Intelligence Laboratory – ROMA TRE University, Italy
Elisabeth Lex Graz - University of Technology, Austria
Pietro Pinoli - Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Alain Starke - University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Markus Zanker Free - University of Bozen-Bolzano and University of Klagenfurt, Austria

IMPORTANT DATES

~~March 15,~~April 2, 2025: abstract and title submission (mandatory)
~~April 9,~~April 21, 2025: paper submission
April 28, 2025: notification to authors
May 5, 2025: camera-ready due (mandatory)

Submit a paper

During the submission process select “WeBIUM - 2nd Workshop on Wearable Devices and Brain-Computer Interfaces for User Modelling”.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

The 2nd Workshop on Wearable Devices and Brain-Computer Interfaces for User Modelling - WEBIUM25, will take place on (To be Defined)

09.00-09.10: Opening and Welcome
09.10 - 09.50: Invited Talk
’Wearables and xR: From personalized healthcare to user-centred immersive experiences’
by Tiago Falk, Full Professor at INRS-EMT, University of Quebec, FIEEE
09.50 - 10.30: I Session Paper Presentations
10.30 - 11.00: Break
11.00 - 12.15: II Session Paper Presentations
12.15 - 12.25: Lessons learned and roundtable with the authors
12.25 - 12.45: Wrap up and summary

INVITED TALK

'Wearables and xR: From personalized healthcare to user-centred immersive experiences'

by Tiago Falk

Tiago H. Falk is a Full Professor at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre on Energy, Materials, and Telecommunications (INRS-EMT), University of Québec, where he directs the Multisensory Signal Analysis and Enhancement Lab focused on building next-generation human-machine interfaces for both real and virtual worlds. He is also the Co-Director of the INRS-UQO Mixed Research Unit on Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, where research is being conducted to make human-machine interfaces secure and reliable by tackling emerging vulnerabilities to artificial intelligence algorithms. He is Co-Chair of the IEEE Future Directions in Telepresence Initiative, Co-Chair of the Technical Committee on Brain-Machine Interface Systems of the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC) Society, Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, Member-at-Large of the IEEE SMC Society Board of Governors, Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE SMC eNewsletter, and a Fellow of the IEEE.