Opinion Survey Agents
1987-2007-2027

The field of Agents evolved from the 80s along several tracks
(distribution, multiplicity, autonomy), gained momentum, attracted forces,
and faces today several challenges. We intend to diagnose the present
situation and look into the future, but this exercise can only be achieved
with the participation of the community at large. Please help us accomplish
this aim by answering this brief questionnaire.

     Helder Coelho, Luis  Antunes


Please print, fill in, and send to fax no. +351-21-7500084.
Or send by e-mail to xarax@di.fc.ul.pt, with Subject: [SURVEY AGENTS 2007].
Or fill in the on-line version available in
http://www.di.fc.ul.pt/~xarax/survey.htm.


Personal Data:
Sex: male, female
Age:
Country:
Are you employed at  
a. university b. research institute c. government d. company
How many AAMAS conferences have you attended?  0,1,2,3, more
How many people in your group work on agents?  0, 2-5, 5-10, more

Questions 

                                                    agree neutral disagree

-- Game theory is a very important research area for MAS:    0  0  0  0  0
-- The BDI model is a useful theory for developing agents:   0  0  0  0  0
-- Agent technology forms a bridge between AI and Software 
Engineering:                                                 0  0  0  0  0
-- Environment models are indispensable for any agent model: 0  0  0  0  0
-- Combining deliberative and reactive behavior is a very
important challenge in agent implementation:                 0  0  0  0  0
-- There are enough good agent development methodologies:    0  0  0  0  0
-- Agent technology is ready to be used by industry:         0  0  0  0  0
-- Major challenges in agent technology are theoretical:     0  0  0  0  0
-- Major challenges in agent technology are implementation 
issues:                                                      0  0  0  0  0
-- Virtual characters are a major application area for 
agents:                                                      0  0  0  0  0
-- Social simulation should be a part of AAMAS:              0  0  0  0  0
-- Cognitive robotics should be part of AAMAS:               0  0  0  0  0
-- How many years will agent technology exist independently: 5 10 20 30 50



I) How do you characterise the present moment of Agents field (mature, 
growing, established, etc.)?










II) Which research lines from the past were discontinued and yet remain
open and interesting?










III) Identify the hottest issues and the most interesting open problems.











IV) What are the strategical directions (fundamental, theoretical,
applicational) for the next 20 years?










V) Which are the main ethical or political issues raised by autonomous
agents? Why are they not explicitly discussed?