Interacting with a computer requires adopting some metaphor to guide our actions and expectations. Most human-computer interfaces can be classified according to two dominant metaphors: (1) agent and (2) environment. Interactions based on an agent metaphor treat the computer as an intermediary that responds to user requests. In the environment metaphor, a model of the task domain is presented for the user to interact with directly. The term agent has come to refer to the automation of aspects of human-computer interaction (HCI), such as anticipating commands or autonomously performing actions. Norman's 1984 model of HCI is introduced as reference to organize and evaluate research in human-agent interaction (HAI). A wide variety of heterogeneous research involving HAI is shown to reflect automation of one of the stages of action or evaluation within Norman's model. Improvements in HAI are expected to result from a more heterogeneous use of methods that target multiple stages simultaneously.

Buzzeo (Phoenix, Ariz.), a software engineering firm, has developed a highly adaptable self-service application that automates various administrative Bell Helicopter Textron (Fort Worth, rapid transit (BART) system. The lab functions for the higher-education Tex.), a manufacturer of helicopters, will develop a system to better train marketplace. This rule-based has implemented an intelligent system both new BART operators and those system has helped Buzzeo cut its to automate the procurement needing periodic retraining. ATS enables customers traffic problems at commercial airports. Technical Library at the to track packages through a The $9.3 million, two-story Phillips site on Kirtland Air Force Base, nationwide 800 number by simply building, called the Surface Development New Mexico, is using advanced pattern-recognition stating a tracking number to learn and Test Facility, is being built at technology to design the status of a package.

Deneb Robotics (Auburn Hills, Mich.) has been awarded a $2.3 million contract from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the agent network for task scheduling and execution. This intelligent agent-based project is designed to improve existing factory-scheduling systems with a new task scheduling and execution system in which Shell U.K. Exploration and Production availability and prevent cars from agents represent factory resources, systems, (Aberdeen, U.K.) has implemented being damaged while they are parked. The Arvin Industries (Columbus, Ind.) is Cisco Systems (San Jose, Calif.), a supplier expert system helped Shell achieve working with the U.S. Air Force to of network technology, is using over $1.6 million in cost savings for develop a neural network system that intelligent-agent technology to integrate its Brent Field site within 2 months of can determine the quality of noise in CD-ROM and online web information implementation. The neural network will help The addition of intelligent The National Research Council has determine what exactly an annoying search-and-retrieval capabilities has awarded Nestor (Providence, R.I.) a sound is and how it can be fixed. Mercedes-Benz plans This system has helped cut specialty Neural Computer Sciences (NCS) to establish three vrf test sites in clinic costs by 40 percent.

The format of the conference will include paper presentations, invited speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and planning and scheduling competitions.

The Second International Conference on Multiagent Systems (ICMAS-96) Workshop on Norms, Obligations, and Conventions was held in Kyoto, Japan, from 10 to 13 December 1996. Participants included scientists from deontic logic, database framework, decision theory, agent architecture, cognitive modeling, and legal expert systems. This article summarizes the contributions chosen for presentation and their links to these areas.

In adjacent agents from dropping their commitments; (held in Kyoto, Japan, on 10-13 December domains (logical philosophy, social or better, how to regulate 1996). Both the program committee philosophy, decision theory), both legal agents dropping their commitments and the contributors included and social norms have received to a joint action to not disrupt the scientists from different backgrounds considerable, if not satisfactory, attention. The discussion addressed on, has contributed dramatically to These tasks have now entered the several issues: (1) What is the the attention given by the scientific MAS field's common knowledge. Often action is reduced to decision authorization, access regulation, For example, the existence of so-called (that is, a choice among one's privacy maintenance, respect of decency, Georgeff 1991) have shown that we and Tennenholtz 1992). Why? Don't we need a reciprocity.

Busey Bank (Champaign, Ill.) is using intelligent-agent technology to launch its Lloyds Bowmaker Motor Finance (Petersfield, U.K.) has implemented a The Philadelphia Stock Exchange care products, has developed a rulebased neural network-based system for credit (Philadelphia, Pa.) has adopted an multinational order-entry and scoring new loan applications. The company is system helps Lloyds determine whether increase the reliability and scalability using the system to process orders to accept a loan and gives the reasons of network-supported options-trading from its network of more than for its choice. The system uses an electronic facilities. The software will permit installed a rule-based expert system to camera to image the front face of letters, team members in different geographic manage the complexity of producing identify the destination address, locations to explore similar multisensory more than 20,000 new designs and and determine its delivery-point bar environments both independently 2.4 billion greeting cards annually. The company has completely reengineered its operation, converting an Telecommunications providers MCI Healthcare software developer HBO & antiquated job-shop operation into a (Washington, D.C.) and BT (London, Company (Atlanta, Ga.) is developing state-of-the-art cellular one.

There is a great dispute among researchers about the roles, characteristics, and specifications of what are called agents, intelligent agents, and adaptive agents. Most research in the field focuses on methodologies for solving specific problems (for example, communications, cooperation, architectures), and little work has been accomplished to highlight and distinguish the field of intelligent agents. As a result, more and more research is cataloged as research on intelligent agents. The Workshop on Intelligent Adaptive Agents, presented as part of the Thirteenth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, addressed these issues as well as many others that are presented in this article.

There is a great dispute among researchers about the roles, characteristics, and specifications of what are called agents, intelligent agents, and adaptive agents. Most research in the field focuses on methodologies for solving specific problems (for example, communications, cooperation, architectures), and little work has been accomplished to highlight and distinguish the field of intelligent agents. As a result, more and more research is cataloged as research on intelligent agents. Therefore, it was necessary to bring together researchers working in the field to define initial boundaries, criteria, and acceptable characteristics of the field. The Workshop on Intelligent Adaptive Agents, presented as part of the Thirteenth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, addressed these issues as well as many others that are presented in this article.

Autonomous agents are computer systems that are capable of independent action in dynamic, unpredictable environments. Agents are also one of the most important and exciting areas of research and development in computer science today. Agents are currently being applied in domains as diverse as computer games and interactive cinema, information retrieval and filtering, user interface design, and industrial process control. Agents '98 will build on the enormous success of the First International Conference on Autonomous Agents (Agents '97), held in Marina del Rey in February 1997. The conference welcomes submissions of original, high quality papers and videos with summaries concerning autonomous agents in a variety of embodiments and playing a variety of roles in their environments.