QUESTION

(a) Define what is a software agent?

(b) An intelligent agent is known to exhibit several characteristics or properties that distinguish it from another piece of software. List and describe five of these characteristics or properties apart from reactiveness and proactiveness

(c) A key issue in agent architectures is balancing reactiveness and proactiveness. Explain why balancing these two above-mentioned properties is an important issue

(d) Explain the difference between agents and objects

(e) Explain the difference between agents and expert systems

(f) Give two applications of agent technology