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

Ricardo Sanz Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es
Thu, 20 Nov 2003 13:14:13 +0100


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Agree.

Threads are modelling concepts that are quite close to some  
implementations (even to FORTAN ones).

It is a very useful modeling concept because goues beyond what's human. 
There is an antropomorphising  trend that equates agency with human-like 
behavior. Agents can go well beyond that into multiple threads of 
consciousness (something that humans cannot do).

Best,

Ricardo

F.Tolman wrote:

>Indeed "living" is the right word. Living is the first step however. "Responsive" is another qualification that can be added to an Agent object. "Social" is yet another qualification that can be implemented. Don't make the error to confuse the concept with the implementation. Agents can be implemented in Fortran if you like. It is the agent concept that makes all the difference. We are now searching for a clean way to model the concept and its different qualifications.
>
>Cheers
>
>Frits Tolman
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Ricardo Sanz 
>  To: Yanqi 
>  Cc: modeling@fipa.org 
>  Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:21 AM
>  Subject: Re: [Modeling] Re: [Modeling] Agent-oriented: why is it necessary?
>
>
>Hi,
>
>  
>
>>That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
>>the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
>>implementation, is it?
>>    
>>
>
>  In some sense, the answer is "Yes". An agent is an extension of an object. 
>
>  But the type of extension makes a big deal. I like to think
>  about them as objects with own threads (active objects). That sets the focus 
>  not only on modeling but also on implementation. 
>
>  We think about them as "living" objects.
>
>  Best,
>
>  Ricardo
>
>
>
>  Yanqi wrote:
>
>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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> 
>
>      -- 
>
>
>
>========================< Cut Here 
>=====================
>
>Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es 
>Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org 
>Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org
>
>http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz 
>
>
>
>The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY
>
>Universidad Polit¨¦cnica de Madrid
>Madrid, Spain
>
>http://www.aslab.org 
>========================< Cut Here 
>=====================
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Modeling mailing list
>Modeling@www.fipa.org
>http://fipa.org/mailman/listinfo/modeling
>
>    
>
>
>Department of Computer Science and Techonology,
>National University of Defense Techonology,
>Changsha, 410073 China
>+86 731 4533854
>http://yanqi.topcities.com
>_______________________________________________
>Modeling mailing list
>Modeling@www.fipa.org
>http://fipa.org/mailman/listinfo/modeling
>
>  
>
>  
>

-- 



========================< Cut Here >=====================

Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es 
Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org 
Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org

http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz 



The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Madrid, Spain

http://www.aslab.org 
========================< Cut Here >=====================



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Agree.<br>
<br>
Threads are modelling concepts that are quite close to some&nbsp;
implementations (even to FORTAN ones).<br>
<br>
It is a very useful modeling concept because goues beyond what's human.
There is an antropomorphising&nbsp; trend that equates agency with
human-like behavior. Agents can go well beyond that into multiple
threads of consciousness (something that humans cannot do).<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
Ricardo<br>
<br>
F.Tolman wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
 cite="mid00a001c3aec8$c6d3d710$5d523850@tuqt3gvqlc5bpo">
  <pre wrap="">Indeed "living" is the right word. Living is the first step however. "Responsive" is another qualification that can be added to an Agent object. "Social" is yet another qualification that can be implemented. Don't make the error to confuse the concept with the implementation. Agents can be implemented in Fortran if you like. It is the agent concept that makes all the difference. We are now searching for a clean way to model the concept and its different qualifications.

Cheers

Frits Tolman
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ricardo Sanz 
  To: Yanqi 
  Cc: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:modeling@fipa.org">modeling@fipa.org</a> 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:21 AM
  Subject: Re: [Modeling] Re: [Modeling] Agent-oriented: why is it necessary?


Hi,

  </pre>
  <blockquote type="cite">
    <pre wrap="">That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
implementation, is it?
    </pre>
  </blockquote>
  <pre wrap=""><!---->
  In some sense, the answer is "Yes". An agent is an extension of an object. 

  But the type of extension makes a big deal. I like to think
  about them as objects with own threads (active objects). That sets the focus 
  not only on modeling but also on implementation. 

  We think about them as "living" objects.

  Best,

  Ricardo



  Yanqi wrote:

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 <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es">&lt;Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es&gt;</a>:

  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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=====================

<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es">Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es</a> 
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org">Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org</a> 
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org">Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org</a>

<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz">http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz</a> 



The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Universidad Polit&uml;&brvbar;cnica de Madrid
Madrid, Spain

<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aslab.org">http://www.aslab.org</a> 
========================&lt; Cut Here 
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Department of Computer Science and Techonology,
National University of Defense Techonology,
Changsha, 410073 China
+86 731 4533854
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://yanqi.topcities.com">http://yanqi.topcities.com</a>
_______________________________________________
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  </pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">-- 



========================&lt; Cut Here &gt;=====================

<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es">Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es</a> 
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org">Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org</a> 
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org">Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org</a>

<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz">http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz</a> 



The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Universidad Polit&eacute;cnica de Madrid
Madrid, Spain

<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aslab.org">http://www.aslab.org</a> 
========================&lt; Cut Here &gt;=====================

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