Intelligent Agents Characteristics

Intelligent Agents Characteristics Report on Intelligent Agents Methodology The research for this report was done using the various books from the library, Internet sites and computer magazines. Introduction The uses of intelligent agents within the home and in businesses have increased dramatically over the years. Intelligent agents are a part of a program that carries out a task unsupervised and applies some degree of intelligence to the task. New and improved intelligent agents are constantly being designed and produced to carry out numerous repetitive and predictable tasks. One definition of an intelligent agent, as described by states â€Å"an intelligent agent perceives its environment via sensors and acts rationally upon that environment with its effectors. Hence, an intelligent agent gets percepts one at a time and maps this percept into actions† In his book, Essentials of Management Information Systems, Kenneth Laudon describes an intelligent agent as being â€Å"software programs that work in the background to carry out specific, repetitive and predictable tasks for an individual user business or software application†. The design and production of an intelligent agent has to take into consideration numerous factors. This report takes a look at these considerations and factors and provides and insight into how intelligent agents are influencing businesses and society as a whole. Findings Agent Characteristics Intelligent agents have four main characteristics: â€Å"An agent is a computer software system whose characteristics are situatedness, autonomy, adapitvity and sociability.† Situatedness When an Agent receives some form of sensory input from its environment, it then performs some actions that change its environment in some way. Autonomy This agent characteristic means that an agent is able to act without direct intervention from humans or other agents. This type of agent has almost complete control over it own actions and internal state. Adapitvity This agent characteristic means that it is capable of reacting flexibly to changes within its environment. It is able to accept goal directed initiatives when appropriate and is also capable of learning from its own experiences, environment and interaction with others. Sociability This type of characteristic means that the agent is capable of interacting in a peer-to-peer manner with other agents or humans. Design Considerations One of the most important aspects of intelligent agents is the design of the actual agent. The agent needs to be able to fulfil the tasks that are required from it, i.e. to achieve its goals. There are four main aspects that need to be taken into consideration when designing an intelligent agent. Percepts This is the information that the agent receives Actions This is what the agent needs to do or can do to achieve its objectives. Goals This is the factor that the agent is trying to achieve Environment The final aspect is the environment in which the agent will be working in. The environment in which the agent performs is probably the most important aspect that needs to be considered as this affects the outcome of the percepts, actions and goals. Different Approaches to Agent Design From the agent characteristics and design considerations come four different approaches to intelligent agent design. Simple Reflex Agents Simple reflex agents are the most basic form of intelligent agent. They are simple minded, direct connections between percepts and actions. Reflex Agents with Internal State Reflex agents with internal state are similar to the Simple reflex agents except they remember the state of the environment as contained in earlier percepts. As the agents sensors do not provide a detailed account of the environment at each input, a perception of the environment is captured over a period of time that provided further information to the agent and enables it to provide better results. Goal Based Agents For a goal based agent, the agent must know more than the current state of the environment, they must know the full requirements of the goal that they are required to perform. The goal based agent combines the information of the goal with possible actions that will achieve that goal. This may cause the agent to take longer sequences of possible actions before deciding on the right course of action and whether the goal has been achieved. Goal Based agents also take the future into consideration. 3.4 Utility Based Agents Utility-based agents are the ultimate form of intelligent agent and are an extension of the goal-based agent. Utility agents consider degrees of utility and try to maximise their own potential. Utility functions allow the agent to identify conflicting or alternative goals and decisions. The likelihood of success and importance of the goal can also be compared and evaluated by the utility agent; the agent would then execute appropriate action to ensure the best option was selected. Distinction between Environments Accessible Vs Inaccessible This environment is concerned with whether the agent is able to see the exact state of the environment. If the agents sensors are able to provide it with complete access to the state of the environment needed to choose an action, then the environment is accessible otherwise it is inaccessible. Deterministic Vs Nondeterministic In a deterministic environment, the use of the same actions will produce the same outcome every time the process or situation is repeated. But in a Nondeterministic environment the final outcome of the process or situation will be different every time. Episodic Vs Nonepisodic In an episodic environment, subsequent episodes do not depend on the actions that occurred in previous episodes, agents in this type of environment dont need to plan ahead. Agents in Nonepisodic environments do tend to depend on previous actions that occurred in previous episodes and do tend to have to plan ahead. 4.4 Static Vs Dynamic A static environment is an environment that doesnt change and the time taken for an agent to process an action doesnt matter, as the environment will remain the same. A dynamic environment changes continuously and an intelligent agent has to be able to process actions quickly before the environment changes. Discrete Vs Continuous In a discrete environment the number of distinct percepts and actions that an agent will receive is limited to a set amount, but in a continuous environment the percepts and actions are unlimited. Intelligent agents that are in an accessible or deterministic environment do not need to deal with uncertainty. Inaccessible, Nondeterministic, Nonepisodic, Dynamic, and Continuous environments are the most challenging, as these are unpredictable environments, the other environments are more stable and less volatile. The use of Intelligent Agents in Businesses The use of intelligent agents has increased dramatically over the past 5 year, though the majority of people wouldnt think twice about the process that they do that make their lives easier. During the1990s, A.D.Little, a management consultant, estimated that by the year 2000, 15 to 20 percent of all computer applications would contain intelligent agents. Though this figure has increased a substantial amount with the development of new technologies. The use of intelligent can agents can be seen in every industry sector within the UK and all over the world. The most common and widely used agents are found within two main areas. The first is within office type environments in which computers are used and the second is on the World Wide Web. In the first issue, computer software is the main reason for agents being used so widely: Operating systems use agents to add email and dial up networking account, do group management, add/remove programs and devices and monitor licences. Spreadsheet agents offer suggestions for improvement and can also tutor novice users. Software development agents assist in routine activities such as data filtering. The second and area and probably the largest is the Internet. The internet uses a variety of different types of agents to help the user find what they are looking for. They include: Search engines improve your information retrieval on the Internet Web mastering Agents these agents make it easy to manage a web site Web Agents These agents improve the users browsing experience. Monitoring Agents These agents monitor web sites or specific themes you are interested in. Shopbots These agents allow you to compare prices on Internet. Virtual Assistants these include virtual pets and desktop assistants. Intelligent agents can be seen in a wide variety of situations, the table in point 5.1 provides more examples of what agents are capable of. Though agents are making life easier, it is also reducing the amount of employees needed to do the job. An example of this would be a car-manufacturing factory. During the 1980s thousands of people were employed to make the vehicles but since the introduction of machinery that contains an intelligent agent to do the repetitive work, numerous people were made redundant and the positions in which 4 5 people did the job has been reduced to one or two men and the machine. An intelligent agent is something that perceives and acts in an environments. An ideal agent is one that always takes the action that is expected to maximise its performance. There are a variety of basic agent program designs. The designs vary in efficiency, compactness and flexibility. The appropriate design of the agent program depends on the percepts, actions, goals and environment. Some environments are more demanding than others. Reflex agents respond immediately to percepts, goal based agents act so that they can achieve their goals and utility-based agents try to maximise their own ‘happiness. The use of intelligence agents has increased beyond the expectations of experts within the management and information technology fields. The use of intelligent agents are being seen in a wide cross section of businesses whether it be in machinery and equipment or within the software programs that they have in their computers and networks. The most widely used forms of intelligent agents are found on the Internet, they are mainly used within search engines. Recommendations Intelligent agents are the basis of artificial intelligence; there are considerable ongoing researches into the field, with many exciting possibilities. â€Å"Agents are here to stay, not least because of their diversity, their wide range of applications and the broad spectrum of companies investing in them. As we move further and further into the information age, any information-based organisation which does not invest in agent technology may be committing commercial hara-kiri.† Bibliography Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig 1995,Artificial intelligence: A modern Approach, Prentice Hall www-cdr.Stanford.edu/nextlink/expert.html [Accessed 13 October 2002] Intelligent Agents on the internet: fact, Fiction and Forecast, Oren Etzioni and Daniel S. Weld www.computer.org/intelligent/ex1995/x4044abs.htm [Accessed 16th October 2002] www.hermans.org/agents/index.html [Accessed 16th October 2002] Intelligent agents likely to cut jobs, alter offices, Kile Martz www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/1998/08/03focus5.html [Accessed 16th October 2002] http://www.agentland.com/ http://sbm-connect.tees.ac.uk/ebuscon/Presentations%20(PPP%20%20PDF)%20Files/Chapter%2011%20Intelligent%20Systems%20in%20Business.pdf [Accessed 13th October 2002] Turban, McLean and Wetherbe, 1996, First Edition, Information technology for managers Improving Quality and Productivity Laudon K. Essentials of Management Information Systems, 2002, Fifth Edition, Prentice Hall

Process Paper on Making Snowman

Daniel Ricciardi Man of Snow Jim woke up after a large snowstorm last night that left ten inches of snow. His nephew Sean ran in to jim’s room and asks him to go outside. Sean said no one wanted to go and if they did it was to shovel. Of course Jim would rather play in snow then shovel so he gets outside before he gets assigned to work. He asked Sean what his favorite activity was in the snow. Sean said sledding but he was more interested in something else he hasn’t done before, making a snowman. Jim couldn’t wait to show Sean how to build the perfect snowman so he begins right away.Now their snowman needs three main body parts his legs, chest, and head. To make each body part they mold a small ball of snow in their hands and place it on the ground. Then begin to roll the ball around allowing it to gather up snow gradually getting larger. Jim Made sure not to roll it in a straight line since it might end up with a soup can shape snowball. They made sure their fir st ball for the legs was as big as Sean. Now repeat the process of molding the ball and rolling it to create the three body parts with one large and the rest gradually getting smaller.Lifting the chest snowball onto the leg snowball was difficult considering the size of my snowballs but Jim managed. Now they have the legs, body, and head with a perfect size deduction going from legs to head. Sean was filled with so much excitement seeing this large snow creature in almost full form. Sean could have been completely satisfied with the snowman he was so big he could climb it. Jim mentions to Sean that there not finished, the poor guy has no face. Sean was puzzled on how to draw a face onto our snowman. Jim told him we will not draw but all you need is a dozen or so quarter sized stones.Sean offered right away to look for them. While he did that Jim went inside to get a large orange carrot for the nose. Jim was lucky enough to find 2 large buttons for the eyes and a few smaller ones for a button shirt. Jim runs outside to see Sean stuffing the stones creating a in a vertical line across the lower part of the head. Jim asks him if he wants the snowman to smile or keep this straight face. Without an answer Jim starts to align the stones into a happy face along with the eyes and nose and buttons down the body. Sean is laughing uncontrollably at the goofy looking face.Jim couldn’t help laughing as he walks to the woods. He finds two skinny branches as along as his own arm. He stabs both sides of the snowman body with the left one tilted up to look like a wave. Sean jumps up and gives him a high-five almost snapping the arm right off. Now for them to finally finish, they both go inside and look for a hat, scarf, and mittens. They got the most colorful and wacky styles they could find. Together they place the clothing on there now finished snowman. With Jims help Sean created his first most perfect snowman.

Getting the Best Anti Intellectualism Essay Topics

Getting the Best Anti Intellectualism Essay Topics School should occur in the evenings. College is for a high amount of study. Students ought to be permitted to pray in school. School tests aren't powerful. Argumentative essay topics are so important since they are debatableand it's vital to at all times be critically contemplating the world around us. A student ought to keep in contact with the hottest trends and know which persuasive essay topics are related to sound convincing in regards to defending personal opinions. You first have to figure out the reason behind your essay, before you are able to write persuasive content about it. To discover argumentative essay topics easy on various platforms, you want to comprehend about the argumentative essay. In the event you were given a task to compose an essay, you should first understand what sort of essay you're expected to write. Normally, it doesn't include references and quotes in it. You could be offered a list of essay prompts to pick from. When it can be difficult to inspire children to compose essays, the trick is to introduce subjects or issues they are interested in. You're now prepared to compose your very first research paper and you can't decide what things to write it on. Writing prompts are among the best techniques to create confident writers who take pleasure in the procedure. Research papers are somewhat more complex than the essays you've written before. Anti Intellectualism Essay Topics Ideas Social issues can be reframed as social difficulties, and likewise, social issues can be downgraded into simple problems that matter to certain segments of the people. Pick a single person whom you admire for their leadership abilities and write about the traits which make them special and how they've influenced you somehow. You should participate in far-reaching studying to cover all facets of the subject and all point of views by different men and women. By way of example, students might write about the advantages of a vegan diet. When you imitate the job written by somebody else and move it as your individual it's generally called plag iarism. It is vital to choose a great topic as a way to compose an excellent paper. As an example, let's say you decide on the very first topic from our list. Thus, include data in the shape of statistics, experiments, research material that will help you support your essay argument. After you choose a topic, you should reply to the query and after that substantiate your response with three or more motivations as to why you think like that. Once you comprehend the sort of essay, it's time to choose a topic. The college essays must be organized in the particular format and design based on the instructions given. It's possible for you to discover the Old Testament's teaching about shalom particularly in the prophets, and you'll be able to discover the New Testament's teaching about the kingdom particularly in the gospels and in certain passages of Paul's epistles. First off, select a topic that's interesting for you before you think how others are going to react to it. You must pick an overall topic and after that when you have you can begin by doing some research on it. There are a few great topics to take into account when picking a topic for your argumentative essay. Argumentative essay is about arguing and debating on a subject, which is debatable. Training to compose essays on various topics is going to be the ideal preparation to the exam. Occasionally, selecting an excellent argumentative essay topics will be quite tough. Following are a few of the advised sociology essay topic for those students that are unable to choose a great topic for their assignment. A suitable comprehension of theodicy, suffering, and the issue of evil will assist the believer in times of terrific distress. Our life is about words. The issue is that everybody's interpretation of what makes a great society differs. Perhaps a number of the problems of integrity in today's church comes from the laziness that is so boldly exhibited in the anti-intellectual movement. Choose something you're in a position to discuss or describe and something which will present your good qualities to your teacher. Remember that you may make funny argumentative essays if you do a few things. Remember you have to reveal the best about yourself. There are a lot of things to argue when it has to do with the law.

Parental Involvement Fosters Student Success Essay

Educators today, recognize positive influence of parental involvement fosters higher student academic achievement levels (Danielson, 2006; Jacobs Kritsonis, 2007). One crucial element of parental involvement is effective communication between parents and teachers. Research show parents prefer to establish informal relationships with frequent open and non-judgmental exchanges with their childrens teachers (Eberly, Joshi, Konzal, 2005). Accordingly, this article is to explore key research-based recommendations for school administrators and teacher leaders to identify and overcome communication barriers with parents. Parental Involvement Fosters Student Success Parental involvement as defined by Greene and Tichenor (2003) is†¦show more content†¦Therefore, the goal of every school leader should be improved parental communication and involvement at their campuses. Effects of Culture on Parental Involvement Often parents from diverse backgrounds are faced with the challenge of adequately communicating or establishing relationships with teachers. In fact, under most circumstances developing a trustful relationship is difficult; however, it is even more problematic when parents and teachers are from different cultures, spoken languages, and socio-economic statuses. Given that the population of the United States is becoming more and more diverse. School administrators and teacher leaders must develop new ways to communicate with increasingly diverse parents and stakeholders. The increasing diversity in student population has not only intensified the need for establishing culturally responsive pedagogy and effective communication between teachers and parents (Eberly, et al, 2005; Richard, Brown, Forde, 2006). Likewise, as the nation’s demographics drastically changes within the next decade, school leaders everywhere will be confronted wi th these same issues (Jacobs Kritsonis, 2007). Effective Communications with Parents Effective communication is fundamental to building a partnership between home and school. During the era, of 21st century of technologies and changing student demographic, educators mustShow MoreRelatedParental Involvement And Academic Performance1686 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween students of all levels. Research studies have suggested that educational achievement has remained unbalanced for a variety of reasons, one of which is the lack of parental involvement in their children’s academic performance (Larocque, Kleiman Darling, 2011). Parental involvement refers to the amount of participation a parent has when it comes to schooling and her child s life. 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