Re: Definition of agent in the Web Architecture

Dear Paul

Thanks for considering my comments. Of course, I am not intensely 
satisfied with your response. While I agree that the statements made 
about agents in the document are clear I feel that there is more to 
agents and the sematic web than the document suggests.
As your response reflects the opinion of a majority I have no problems 
accepting it.

good luck
g
Andre


Paul Cotton wrote:

>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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>>----
>>The disclaimer that applies to e-mail from
>>TNO Physics and Electronics Laboratory
>>can be found on: http://www.tno.nl/disclaimer/email.html
>>
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>>----
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-- 
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/

Received on Tuesday, 14 September 2004 07:02:50 UTC