Customer Reviews

Intelligent Software Agents

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is a book targeted for those who are interested in agents, what they can do, what institutions are working on them, and descriptions of many application areas with some discussion of existing programs. The authors are to be congratulated on the scope of their research and reporting. In my view the book discusses much more of the "what" agents can do rather than the "how" and dwells on the market potential of agents. While such a review is of interest to many readers, it left me unimpressed. Any reader who is interested in an overview of the potential applications of agents and agent technology without having to dwell much on the detailed workings of the technology or what the current research issues are, this is the perfect book. For those who have some familiarity with the topic of agents, and desire more specific information about how to develop them, this book is a poor choice. Books I prefer to this one include Agent Technology, Jennings and Wooldridge (editors) , The Design of Intelligent Agents by J. Mueller, and Artificial Intelligence: a Modern Approach by Russell and Norvig.

The authors have developed an important book with immaculate detail, strong writing, an excellent grip on the material, and a strong sense of direction for the future. The book is particularly strong in its earlier section, dealing with the development of agent technology. Despite the avalanche of books written about agents in recent years, there have been comparatively few books that deliver a comprehensive account of what it all really means.

If you're looking for a technical code to solve agent problems, then this is not the book for you. If you want a comprehensive analysis of the possible effects of agent technology then this is a must read. The authors have done a great job and have made a through analysis of possible agent areas and how industry and society will be affected. As a professional agent programmer, I was aware of most of the applications discussed , but was still surprised by some areas covered that I had never considered. I do not agree with the negative reviews listed here and recommend readers make up their own minds.

In conclusion - highly readable and recommended.

Looking at the other review, it seems that you either love this book or dislike it. Personally, I found it valuable, concise to the point and worth its price. It gave me more information than I have been able to find elsewhere ( and I have been looking along time and spending large amounts of money on other books ). This book would make a good text for teaching the management of agents and their potential in the business world.

I am very surprised at the recent reviews of this book and I agree with the vast majority of the other more positive reviews that this is one of the best books on agents that I have come across. The book is well written, concise and to the point. It provides strategic value,with recommendations. It is practical, pragmatic and easy to read and understand.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to my CIO ( I have already done so) and other senior management, project managers, agent developers.

This is a superb book. It's aimed at people who must decide how to use agent software and technology-related products & services, but it applies equally well to the management and application of agents. The writing is crystal clear and the book is highly structured.. Even so, it's not a weighty reference work, and it's as enjoyable as it is enlightening.

I first read this book after getting a copy from my local library. I liked so much I bought a copy. The first thing to realize is this book is a management book about Software Agents. It does a great job of explaining the various aspects of agents. It could also be used for as a college textbook. There aren't sets of problems, but there is a whole lot of basic knowledge. I don't have a lot of agent experience, but I have more now after reading this book, but I was never lost reading this book. The book is a great starting point to learn the field. When you finish the book you will have a basic understanding of the different branches of the field, and the whole book is truly top notch.

This book cover a lot of ground in a short space of time and gives one a detailed taste for how agents are created from current technologies, and more importantly, what they might be. That is, if all the suggestions in this book were followed, we might soon have really 'intelligent agent ' software- which as the authors state - "agents live in a barren wilderness" - I agree with that statement.

Being the broad-scope and wide-ranging work that it is, this book has hit the target in terms of coverage. While there have been other agent books recently, this one covers all aspects of agent technology. In doing so, I found it very positive, but of course this depends on whether you want an overview of the field, or a programming reference manual. This is not a programming book and do not buy it if you want code examples Finally, this book is much more than what has appeared on the market thus far. Its depth and breadth is actually pretty amazing considering its length of only 200 pages. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to either gain a good grounding in agent issues, or to expand your understanding of the subject.

This book is high quality on the subject matter. It is a thoughtful exploration of the facts and a conservative appraisal of the potential of agents. This will get you to think seriously about agents and how they can help. It might be best to read before other books on agents technology. My one complaint is that I wanted more !. Anyway, it's well worth reading. Any possibility of a second book ??

This book is a very strong and accessible primer on the agent technology. There are many speculative conjectures on the next new hyped up techno-babble concept and/or technology that will soon revolutionize the world. If you're looking for spin, whether to guide you in business choices or co-op for you own marketing, you won't find it here - look elsewhere. The point of the book is to clearly communicate agent technology that can help one make sense of the computer/internet/information economy.

I would heartily recommend it -- if you are interested in learning some concepts to help you make sense of the IT agent. The authors do a great job of avoiding the typical jargon that makes these sorts of ideas opaque.