[Modeling] Re: [Modeling] Agent-oriented: why is it necessary?

[Yanqi]

Hi, Ricardo and all,

Jennings wrote in "An agent-based approach for building
complex software systems" that no quantitative data is
available to demonstrate the efficacy of agent-oriented
techniques. He had to use a qualitative justification
to argure why agent-oriented approaches are well suited
to engineering complex, distributed software system.

James Odell wrote "Objects and agents: how do they 
differ". In the paper, he argues that "agent-based way
 of thinking brings a useful and important perspective 
for system development."

Is agent just useful in "thinking"? Existing agent-
based applications used to model with agents but imple-
ment with objects. A common sense of my colleague think:

      agent = object + mental attitudes

That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
implementation, is it?

I believe the answer is "No".  But I can not make it
so clear to my colleagues. :(

with regards,
qi

Quoting Ricardo Sanz <Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es>:

> Hi All,
> 
> It is known that discussions about necessity are 
always difficult :-)
> 
> The case for agent-based construction is stronger 
where there is a need of
> strong ecapsulation of semiautonomous behavior. The 
best example I know
> is a distributed control system (DCS).
> 
> A control loop is a paradigmatical task for an agent
> (sense-perceive-act) and
> being part of a large structure like a DCS forces -by 
nature, so to say- an
> agent-based approach.
> 
> In fact these people were building these type of 
systems much before the
> term "agent" was common in mainstream software.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Ricardo
> 
> 
> yan qi wrote:
> 
> >Dear all,
> >
> >After reading lots of papers on agent technology, I
> >have to ask myself this question: is agent-oriented
> >a necessary technology, or as AgentLink says, an 
> >enabling technology for next generation software?
> >
> >To answer this question, both academic and practical
> >reasons should be put forward. Yes, we can say agent
> >is autonomous and proactive. But can we show a 
> >working example that is can not be well developed
> >by existing software development methodologies?
> >
> >I believe this question is hard to answer in a simple
> >way. Do you think so?
> >
> >I like to listen whatever you say.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >qi
> >
> >=====
> >
> >
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> 
> -- 
> 
> 
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> Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es 
> Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org 
> Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY
> 
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Department of Computer Science and Techonology,
National University of Defense Techonology,
Changsha, 410073 China
+86 731 4533854
http://yanqi.topcities.com