01-03: Agents and MultiAgent Systems: A First
Definition.
Introduces a first definition of agents &
multi-agent systems, and hints at some applications. To accompany
pages 5-12.
At this point, it may be useful to watch a couple of other videos,
(not produced by me!), which illustrate the kind of vision that people
have about agents. They are clearly placed in a world of ubiquitous,
networked computing, where computer systems are capable of carrying
out complex delegated tasks on our behalf, and where the way in which
we interact with these systems closely resembles the way in which we
interact with people. In these videos, watch out for ubiquity,
interconnection, intelligence, delegation, and human orientation.
- Knowledge
Navigator.
Produced in about 1987 (according to Wikipedia),
this video from Apple shows one vision of the future of
computing. (Don't take it too seriously!)
- The Siri Personal
Assistant for Your iPhone. It is interesting to
compare the vision of personal assistant agents as portrayed in
Apple's Knowledge Navigator Video (above) with Siri, an actual
iPhone application that appeared about 2010; the Siri technology
was bought by Apple in April 2010.
- Douglas Adams and
Tom Baker Discuss Software Agents.
In this short clip
from a documentary broadcast circa 1990, Douglas Adams (of "Hitch
Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame) is introduced to the idea of
software agents by actor Tom Baker.