RE: Definition of agent in the Web Architecture

Thank you for your comment on the WebArch document [1].

The TAG reviewed your comment at its meeting today and declined to make
the change that you suggested.  

The WebArch document introduces its use of the terms "Web agent", "user
agent" and "agent" in the Introduction.  We believe that the use of
these terms is clear in the document and does not require the additional
description of "autonomy and intelligence" as you have suggested.

Please let us know if you are satisfied with this response to your
comment.

/paulc

[1]
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-webarch-comments/2004JulSep/0
046.html 

Paul Cotton, Microsoft Canada 
17 Eleanor Drive, Nepean, Ontario K2E 6A3 
Tel: (613) 225-5445 Fax: (425) 936-7329 
mailto:pcotton@microsoft.com

  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: public-webarch-comments-request@w3.org [mailto:public-webarch-
> comments-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of AP Meyer
> Sent: August 30, 2004 3:47 AM
> To: public-webarch-comments@w3.org
> Subject: Definition of agent in the Web Architecture
> 
> 
> Hi All
> 
> It is a pleasure to see how often the term agent is used in the
> architecture document. This confirms the intimate relationship of
agent
> technology and the semantic web. However, the definition given at
> http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/WD-webarch-20040816/#def-web-agent is too
> restricted.
> 
> In particular the notions of autonomy and intelligence are not
> mentioned. Autonomy refers to the ability of agents to act without
> explicit commands, e.g. by defining long-term goals. Tasks may be
> allocated in negotiations among agents without human intervention.
> 
> Intelligence refers to the ability of agents to reason about their
> actions based on their world model. OWL reasoners are an example for
> this, others are BDI logics, rule-based systems and others. Adding
> autonomy and intelligence as explicit features of agents broadens the
> scope of the use of agent technology for the semantic web to include
> slef-organising agent societies less tied to immediate user actions.
> 
> A third relevant attribute of agents for the (semantic) web is
mobility.
> Mobile agents can travel among address spaces and interact locally
with
> other agents and services. The inclusion of mobility as part of the
Web
> Architecture would allow agents to play a more active role on the Web,
> resulting in open systems for agent societies. Standardisation of
agent
> platforms occurs within FIPA (http://www.fipa.org/).
> 
> For reference on multi-agent systems see:
> Weiss, G. (ed.), Multiagent Systems: A Modern Approach to Distributed
> Artificial Intelligence, MIT Press, 2000
> 
> 
> hope this helps
> kind regards
> Andre
> 
> --
> Dr. Andre P. Meyer
http://home.hccnet.nl/a.meyer/
> TNO FEL Command & Control and Simulation, http://www.fel.tno.nl/div2/
> Delft Cooperation on Intelligent Systems, http://www.decis.nl/
> 
> 
> --
>
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Received on Monday, 13 September 2004 19:44:11 UTC