ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights some of the major issues involved in the design and implementation of agent based applications. The foremost decision a system designer has to make is when to use agents to solve a problem. The agents have to be able to evaluate the value of each action from a local perspective and also consider its impact on societal objectives. Specification of a context plays an important part in the agent communications. The common vocabulary and context allows the agents to work together and have a shared intent. It is the expression of this shared intent that facilitates agents working towards system wide goals. The agents need an environment to work in, called a Multi Agent System (MAS). The MAS provides an environment for the agents to exist in and perform their activities. Agent systems offer significant advantages for modeling complex adaptive systems.
