Embedding Emotional Context in Recommender Systems

Emotions are crucial for user's decision making in recommendation processes. We first introduce ambient recommender systems, which arise from the analysis of new trends on the exploitation of the emotional context in the next generation of recommender systems. We then explain some results of these new trends in real-world applications through the smart prediction assistant (SPA) platform in an intelligent learning guide with more than three million users. While most approaches to recommending have focused on algorithm performance. SPA makes recommendations to users on the basis of emotional information acquired in an incremental way. This article provides a cross-disciplinary perspective to achieve this goal in such recommender systems through a SPA platform. The methodology applied in SPA is the result of a bunch of technology transfer projects for large real-world rccommender systems

A Multiagent System for Coordinating Ambulances for Emergency Medical Services

To coordinate ambulances for emergency medical services, a multiagent system uses an auction mechanism based on trust. Results of tests using real data show that this system can efficiently assign ambulances to patients, thereby reducing transportation time. Emergency transportation on specialized vehicles is needed when a person's health is in risk of irreparable damage. A patient can't benefit from sophisticated medical treatments and technologies if she or he isn't placed in a proper healthcare center with the appropriate medical team. For example, strokes are neurological emergencies involving a limited amount of time in which treatment measures are effective

Identification and Semiactive Control of Smart Structures Equipped with Magnetorheological Actuators

This paper deals with the problem of identification and semiactive control of smart structures subject to unknown external disturbances such as earthquake, wind, etc. The experimental setup used is a 6-story test structure equipped with shear-mode semiactive magnetorheological actuators being installed in WUSCEEL. The experimental results obtained have verified the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithms

Studies about the atomic capabilities concept for linear control systems in physical multi-agent environments

This paper shows the impact of the atomic capabilities concept to include control-oriented knowledge of linear control systems in the decisions making structure of physical agents. These agents operate in a real environment managing physical objects (e.g. their physical bodies) in coordinated tasks. This approach is presented using an introspective reasoning approach and control theory based on the specific tasks of passing a ball and executing the offside manoeuvre between physical agents in the robotic soccer testbed. Experimental results and conclusions are presented, emphasising the advantages of our approach that improve the multi-agent performance in cooperative systems

Evaluaci��n de la efectividad de la marca LG en el ��mbito de la percepci��n de marca usando una herramienta de simulaci��n computacional

Cuando las empresas eval��an los resultados de su planeaci��n estrat��gica y de mercadeo se enfrentan en numerosas ocasiones al escepticismo sobre c��mo dicha planeaci��n favoreci�� o afect�� la percepci��n hacia la empresa y sus productos. Este proyecto propone por medio del uso de una herramienta de simulaci��n computacional reducir el factor de incertidumbre de LG Electronics en el valor percibido de marca por la poblaci��n de Bogot�� D.C. en cada una de sus l��neas de producto; el grado de inversi��n en mercadeo, publicidad, distribuci��n y servicio. Para ello los consumidores son modelados como agentes inteligentes con poder de recomendaci��n, quienes se basan principalmente en la experiencia generada por el producto y en el grado de influencia de las estrategias de mercadeo que afectan su decisi��n de compra, de preferencia y de permanencia. Adicionalmente se mide la retribuci��n en utilidades y en recordaci��n de marca de las inversiones en mercadeo que la compa����a realiza.

Evaluaci��n de la efectividad de la marca ���Arroz Don Cabe��� en el ��mbito de la percepci��n de marca usando una herramienta de simulaci��n computacional

Al hacer la evaluaci��n de los resultados asociados con procesos de planeaci��n estrat��gica y mercadeo en las empresas, la direcci��n enfrenta un cierto nivel de incertidumbre al no saber si estos planes afectaron positiva o negativamente la posici��n de la empresa en su entorno. El presente trabajo hace uso de una herramienta de simulaci��n basada en agentes inteligentes para reducir el mencionado factor de incertidumbre, en este caso, para la empresa Corgranos S.A. Se espera modelar el comportamiento de los grupos poblacionales directa e indirectamente involucrados con la empresa para as�� afinar los esfuerzos que se efect��an sobre cada uno de ellos, siendo la diferencia entre las suposiciones iniciales y los resultados de la simulaci��n el verdadero aporte del trabajo.

Evaluaci��n de la efectividad de una organizaci��n en el campo de percepci��n de marca usando un sistema de simulaci��n computarizado basado en agentes

El presente proyecto de investigaci��n tiene como objetivo general evaluar la efectividad de los esfuerzos en la percepci��n de una marca a trav��s de la compa����a ���Distr & Co.��� en Colombia, teniendo como fuente principal un sistema de simulaci��n basado en agentes inteligentes; con el que se busca mejorar la metodolog��a para medir el desempe��o de una marca dada. El proceso plantea que por medio de la modelaci��n basada en agentes se pueda dar acercamiento a las partes involucradas en los procesos de compra, es decir, la empresa, vendedores, clientes y finalmente clientes potenciales.

Contrataci��n mediante agentes electr��nicos la posibilidad de otorgar validez a los contratos celebrados mediante agentes electr��nicos, y la atribuci��n de responsabilidad por sus actos a sus due��os o programadores

Las redes cerradas permiten que las personas se conozcan y hacen mas seguro el proceso contractual sin embargo gran parte del desarrollo de la contrataci��n electr��nica ha tenido lugar en Internet no podemos saber si efectivamente estamos contratando con una persona o con un agente

Dynamic task allocation and coordination in cooperative multi-agent environments

La coordinaci�� i assignaci�� de tasques en entorns distribu��ts ha estat un punt important de la recerca en els ��ltims anys i aquests temes s��n el cor dels sistemes multi-agent. Els agents en aquests sistemes necessiten cooperar i considerar els altres agents en les seves accions i decisions. A m��s a m��s, els agents han de coordinar-se ells mateixos per complir tasques complexes que necessiten m��s d'un agent per ser complerta. Aquestes tasques poden ser tan complexes que els agents poden no saber la ubicaci�� de les tasques o el temps que resta abans de que les tasques quedin obsoletes. Els agents poden necessitar utilitzar la comunicaci�� amb l'objectiu de con��ixer la tasca en l'entorn, en cas contrari, poden perdre molt de temps per trobar la tasca dins de l'escenari. De forma similar, el proc��s de presa de decisions distribu��t pot ser encara m��s complexa si l'entorn ��s din��mic, amb incertesa i en temps real. En aquesta dissertaci��, considerem entorns amb sistemes multi-agent amb restriccions i cooperatius (din��mics, amb incertesa i en temps real). En aquest sentit es proposen dues aproximacions que permeten la coordinaci�� dels agents. La primera ��s un mecanisme semi-centralitzat basat en t��cniques de subhastes combinat��ries i la idea principal es minimitzar el cost de les tasques assignades des de l'agent central cap als equips d'agents. Aquest algoritme t�� en compte les prefer��ncies dels agents sobre les tasques. Aquestes prefer��ncies estan incloses en el bid enviat per l'agent. La segona ��s un aproximaci�� d'scheduling totalment descentralitzat. Aix�� permet als agents assignar les seves tasques tenint en compte les prefer��ncies temporals sobre les tasques dels agents. En aquest cas, el rendiment del sistema no nom��s dep��n de la maximitzaci�� o del criteri d'optimitzaci��, sin�� que tamb�� dep��n de la capacitat dels agents per adaptar les seves assignacions eficientment. Addicionalment, en un entorn din��mic, els errors d'execuci�� poden succeir a qualsevol pla degut a la incertesa i error de accions individuals. A m��s, una part indispensable d'un sistema de planificaci�� ��s la capacitat de re-planificar. Aquesta dissertaci�� tamb�� proveeix una aproximaci�� amb re-planificaci�� amb l'objectiu de permetre als agent re-coordinar els seus plans quan els problemes en l'entorn no permeti la execuci�� del pla. Totes aquestes aproximacions s'han portat a terme per permetre als agents assignar i coordinar de forma eficient totes les tasques complexes en un entorn multi-agent cooperatiu, din��mic i amb incertesa. Totes aquestes aproximacions han demostrat la seva efici��ncia en experiments duts a terme en l'entorn de simulaci�� RoboCup Rescue.

A cluster-based implementation of a fault-tolerant parallel reduction algorithm using swarm-array computing

Recent research in multi-agent systems incorporate fault tolerance concepts. However, the research does not explore the extension and implementation of such ideas for large scale parallel computing systems. The work reported in this paper investigates a swarm array computing approach, namely ���Intelligent Agents���. In the approach considered a task to be executed on a parallel computing system is decomposed to sub-tasks and mapped onto agents that traverse an abstracted hardware layer. The agents intercommunicate across processors to share information during the event of a predicted core/processor failure and for successfully completing the task. The agents hence contribute towards fault tolerance and towards building reliable systems. The feasibility of the approach is validated by simulations on an FPGA using a multi-agent simulator and implementation of a parallel reduction algorithm on a computer cluster using the Message Passing Interface.

An agent based approach to distributed task modeling for co-operative task support

This paper describes the design and implementation of an agent based network for the support of collaborative switching tasks within the control room environment of the National Grid Company plc. This work includes aspects from several research disciplines, including operational analysis, human computer interaction, finite state modelling techniques, intelligent agents and computer supported co-operative work. Aspects of these procedures have been used in the analysis of collaborative tasks to produce distributed local models for all involved users. These models have been used as the basis for the production of local finite state automata. These automata have then been embedded within an agent network together with behavioural information extracted from the task and user analysis phase. The resulting support system is capable of task and communication management within the transmission despatch environment.

Can social interaction skills be taught by a social agent? The role of a robotic mediator in autism therapy

Increasingly socially intelligent agents (software or robotic) are used in education, rehabilitation and therapy. This paper discusses the role of interactive, mobile robots as social mediators in the particular domain of autism therapy. This research is part of the project AURORA that studies how mobile robots can be used to teach children with autism basic interaction skills that are important in social interactions among humans. Results from a particular series of trials involving pairs of two children and a mobile robot are described. The results show that the scenario with pairs of children and a robot creates a very interesting social context which gives rise to a variety of different social and non-social interaction patterns, demonstrating the specific problems but also abilities of children with autism in social interactions. Future work will include a closer analysis of interactional structure in human-human and robot-human interaction. We outline a particular framework that we are investigating.