Return-Path: kqml-owner@cs.umbc.edu Received: from algol.cs.umbc.edu (root@algol.cs.umbc.edu [130.85.100.2]) by lirmm.lirmm.fr (8.6.10/8.6.4) with ESMTP id NAA01004 for ; Fri, 18 Aug 1995 13:36:46 +0200 Received: (from daemon@localhost) by algol.cs.umbc.edu (8.6.12/8.6.9) id FAA18707 for kqml-outgoing; Fri, 18 Aug 1995 05:01:31 -0400 Date: Fri, 18 Aug 1995 08:57:17 GMT From: ted Reply-To: ted@unicom.demon.co.uk Message-Id: <768@unicom.demon.co.uk> To: ii_chi@acm.org, kqml@cs.umbc.edu, cg@cs.umn.edu, srkb@cs.unbc.edu, agentalk@cslab.kecl.ntt.jp, ontolingua@hpp.stanford.edu, maamaw@imag.fr, interlingua@isi.edu, huhns@mcc.com, agents@sun.com Subject: Agents Conference, November 95, London, England X-Mailer: FIMail V0.9d X-User: Alpha Test Version Of FI-Mail, DisWin 1.5D:\WINSOCK\WINDIS Lines: 216 Sender: owner-kqml@cs.umbc.edu Precedence: bulk INTELLIGENT AGENTS AND THEIR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS 8-9 NOVEMBER, LONDON BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES An Intelligent Software agent is a software component which acts to accomplish certain tasks on behalf of its user. Many agents are based on the idea that the user need only specify a high-level goal instead of issuing explicit instructions, leaving the 'how' and 'when' decisions to the agent. There has always been an interest in having an agent to do routine tasks for people. The move to PCs resulted in an increase in the volume of latent computing power. This potential now allows for the development of software agents to perform a multitude of tasks. Agents can be used to monitor information, looking for trends based on mathematical rules. This could be used for checking stock levels for inventory control planning or providing opportunity advice through tracking share prices. Agents can also be used in a more active role to seek out information for the user. This is becoming an invaluable service, given the increasing amount of information available and the growth of the Internet as an information provider. The important questions that need to be addressed are: What kind of tasks will agents perform? Will the agents' service be problem-free? Will agents create solutions or problems? Who will teach the agents? Can the agents be taught to use common sense? How will agents enhance human performance? This event provides an overview of agent technology and focuses on the information gathering and management aspect of agent-based systems. It is presented by experts who are actually researching this new revolutionary technology, suppliers of agent-based software products, as well as informed end users, all of whom have important knowledge, information and experiences to share. Once people attending have had the chance to come into contact with the tremendous potentials of agent software technology, they will be able to assess the impact the introduction of such a powerful software tool will have on the efficiency and effectiveness of their own organisation. WHO SHOULD ATTEND IT Managers and Directors Software developers in the fields of: -desktop access to corporate networks -enterprise information systems -OLAP and EIS applications -management of distributed systems -messaging and communications -information access (Internet/local databases) Researchers considering implementing agent software in new application areas Communications managers Developers who wish to embed intelligent agents in existing applications PROGRAMME 8 November Day One SESSION ONE (morning) Introductory Tutorial Offering an Overview of Agent Theories, Applications, Languages and Architectures. Dr. Nick Jennings, Queen Mary and Westfield College Dr. Mike Wooldridge, Manchester Metropolitan University SESSION TWO (afternoon) Focus on the main developments in agent technology and their performance in the market Agents that Reduce Work and Information Overload. Pattie Maes, MIT Media Lab, USA. The "information highway" presents us with an explosion of new computer-based tasks and services. The complexity of this new environment demands a new style of human-computer interaction where the computer becomes an intelligent, active and personalised collaborator using agent software. A novel approach to building software agents - the agent acquires its competence by learning from the user, as well as from agents assisting other users with similar tasks. Prototype agents built using this approach include agents that provide personal assistance with meeting scheduling, electronic mail handling, electronic news filtering, selection of entertainment items, WWW document filtering and interest group formation. Vendors of Agent Technology Christine Guilfoyle, The Trefoyle Partnership Who is selling products and services using intelligent agents What groups of vendors should be active What has happened in the last year How will intelligent agents affect IT and communications suppliers Day two SESSION ONE (morning) Managing Information Using Agents Intelligent Agents and the Information Revolution Professor Katia Sykara, Carneggie Mellon University Intelligent Agents to solve problems of locating information sources, accessing, filtering and integrating information to support decision-making. Overview of Agents uses and applications. Overview of Agents research literature. The issues involved in designing multiple intelligent agents that coordinate and learn from eachother in order to support information gathering and information. Examples from Organisational decision-making, health care, electronic commerce and financial management. The Use of Agents in Information Brokering Systems Jerry Foss, GPT Information trading environments - scenarios for the future evolution of information networks. Information models, Broker/Agent service hierarchies. Information Brokering Services - including brokering functions, Information Rights and Revenues. The anatomy of a broker, including on-line integration of service elements using agent retrieval. Agents for Pro-active marketing, for Information Brokering Services. Applications of Intelligent Agents Betty Atkinson, IBM USA Types of Intelligent Agents Users of Intelligent Agents IBM's work with Object Management Group on Agent-related standards Applications of Intelligent Agents SESSION TWO (afternoon) Agents in the Telecommunications Industry Intelligent agents managing novel services in Integrated Fixed-Mobile Networks Marius Busuioc , BRITISH TELECOM Laboratories Benefits of distributed intelligent agents The application platform Demonstrator design Agent types Scenarios and services Agents in Network Environments Michel Plu, FRANCE TELECOM/CNET Agents as a new way to think about software Agents communication language for distributed resources management Conceptual agents for an Enterprise viewpoint of open distributed processing systems Mobile agent: an attractive and useful metaphor for smart network services Agent-related research projects at FRANCE TELECOM/CNET Agent Applications to provide the business edge Derek Wordley, Mercury Communications Business edge will come from the successful acquisition and analysis of information Telecommunications companies will seek to add value to their offerings to support their customers in this area. Intelligent agents provide powerful tools to: -search for and acquire data -carry out analysis -act accordingly without continuous user intervention Enquiries contact below ***************************************************** * No sky in the world is as blue as the Greek sky...* ***************************************************** * * * Ted Lelekas * * Events Commissioner * * UNICOM Seminars * * * * Brunel Science Park * * Cleveland Road * * Uxbridge * * Middlesex UB8 3PH * * * * Tel. +44 (0) 1895 256 484 * * Fax. +44 (0) 1895 813 095 * * e-mail: ted@unicom.demon.co.uk * ***************************************************** _______________________________________________________________________ Send mail to majordomo@cs.umbc.edu to subscribe/unsubscribe to the kqml mailing list. Send a message with the body "help" for more information. Archives are at http://www.cs.umbc.edu/kqml/mail/