Towards Digital Traces as First Class Digital Objects: an Approach Based on Modeled Traces

Every computer-mediated activity leaves digital traces that are potentially usable as knowledge, for that activity or future activities. The approach proposed in this paper aims at actually using that knowledge in so-called trace-based computer systems. This approach consists in a priori modeling traces, and capturing their various possible interpretations in reproducible transformations. We propose a general meta-model for modeled-trace-based systems, and illustrate its deployment in two applications. Finally, we discuss the challenges raised by the design of such systems, especially in its taking into account the traced human activity, hence its multidisciplinary nature.