Embodied mobile agents

ABSTRACT

The move in many societies toward individuals having multiple networked computational devices -- workstations, notebooks computers, mobile phones, PDAs - radically changes the ways in which people engage those devices. However, we lack interaction paradigms that enable a coherent experience across these technologies. One possible approach to this problem involves the use of embodied mobile agents (EMAs), that is, graphically animated, autonomous or semi-autonomous software systems that can migrate seamlessly from one computational device to another. This paper describes an interactive museum exhibit that was implemented with EMAs, discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by this new form of agent, and consider other potential applications for EMAs. While not a universal solution to challenges of interacting with heterogeneous networks of devices, embodied mobile agents can help to provide a coherent user experience across multiple computational devices.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
          Subjects: Animations

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
          Subjects: Artificial, augmented, and virtual realities

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
animated agents, mobile agents, virtual embodiment