ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we propose some reflections on how an embodied animated agent might be designed so as to adapt its behavior to the cultural context to which it applies. We start from a discussion of the meaning of the term culture to then analyze the literature findings about the way human beings' behavior (natural language expression, affect feeling and display, verbal and nonverbal components of their communication, etc.) varies according to the culture. The description of a context-adaptable embodied animated agent is a departure point to suggest how adaptation might be extended to cultural factors. Finally, the problem of how to ensure that the agent behav ior does not lose in consistency while acquiring adaptation abilities is ex amined: Consistency is considered, at present, as an essential constituent of agent believability and should therefore guide the setting of values for adaptation parameters.
