Relational Agents: A Critical Review
Robert H. Campbell*, Mark N. Grimshaw , Gillian M. Green Senior Lecturer in Computing and Networks, University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Reader in Creative Technologies. University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Senior Research Fellow. University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK
Abstract
Relationships between people who meet in virtual worlds are common and these relationships can be long term, in some cases lasting a life-time. Although relationships formed in virtual worlds have invited a lot of recent interest, surprisingly little work has been done on developing computer agents and non-player characters that can actively participate in such relationships. The focus of this review is relational agents, agents that can build long term socioemotional relationships with users. In virtual worlds, such agents are just starting to emerge; they are more common in other environments but remain few and far between. This review critically assesses the progress of relational agent development and research since their inception in 2005, proposes new areas of research and considers the potential for their exploitation in virtual worlds.
Article Information
Article History:
Received Date: 24/12/2008
Revision Received Date: 30/1/2009
Acceptance Date: 30/1/2009
Electronic publication date: 7/4/2009
Collection year: 2009
© Campbell et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (
http: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
* Address correspondence to this author at the University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Tel: (+44)1204 903417;
E-mail: R.H.Campbell@bolton.ac.uk
Open Peer Review Details |
Manuscript submitted on 24-12-2008 |
Original Manuscript |
Relational Agents: A Critical Review |