Agent Sourcebook: A Complete Guide to Desktop, Internet, and Intranet Agents [Paperback]

Alper Caglayan (Author), Colin Harrison (Author), Colin G. Harrison (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471153273 | ISBN-13: 978-0471153276 | Publication Date: January 15, 1997 | Edition: 1st

A practical guide for implementing agent technology into business applications

This book shows businesses how they can develop and use agent technology to improve business efficiency and lower costs. It describes the different commercial agents currently in use, strategic benefits, and integrating agents into existing systems. The authors use real case studies to show how to successfully deploy agents for specific business purposes.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ask the computer any question and it will figure out how to give you a correct answer. At least, that's always been the science-fiction scenario, a dream still far removed from real-life computing. But the growth of "intelligent agent" software appears to be bringing that scenario closer to reality. Is it all just hype, as many believe? Alper Caglayan and Colin Harrison examine the realities of today's intelligent agents and discover that while we're still a long way from the Hollywood picture of business computing, today's very real agents are already powerful business tools. They examine agents for Internet, Intranet and desktop use, evaluating processes that users can customize or automate. They look at agents that seek and screen information, sort e-mail, simulate human conversation, streamline processes for users, and much more. But they go deeper, delving into the processes and trade-offs of introducing agents into a workplace--including security risks. Perhaps equally important is that Caglayan and Harrison offer a clear and sensible taxonomy, providing a means for cogent discussion of agent technology.

From the Publisher

This book shows businesses how they can develop and use agent technology to improve business efficiency and lower costs. It describes the different commercial agents currently in use, strategic benefits, and integrating agents into existing systems. The authors use real case studies to show how to successfully deploy agents for specific business purposes.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 349 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1st edition (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471153273
• ISBN-13: 978-0471153276
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,732,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, July 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Agent Sourcebook: A Complete Guide to Desktop, Internet, and Intranet Agents (Paperback)

This is a great book! It is a super introduction to agent technology. There is so much hype about agents around -- this book provides a coherent taxonomy of agent technologies and really explains what agents can and cannot do.

Other books I've read on agent technology are either too technical and full of mumbo-jumbo, or are marketingese and filled with content copied straight from company web sites. This book is a great mixture of technology and business that allows you to see the impact agents will make in business.

These guys have really put a lot of thought into this book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource, demystifies important topic., June 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Agent Sourcebook: A Complete Guide to Desktop, Internet, and Intranet Agents (Paperback)

Check out the companion website. A place to find out more about the book, read a sample chapter, and keep up-to-date on a rapidly moving field.

The book is focussed on commercial business applications for software agents - not so much technical research. Ideal for CTO's and CEO's considering agent learning functions in their corporate Intranets or applications.