Conclusion - A Perspective on Agent Systems - page 127

It is worth pointing out that the solutions of the agent systems we described are
limited to the creation of the concept. Some of them have been applied in practical
use, while others are still at the prototype stage, which made it possible to carry out
a number of experiments and tests whose examples are given in the chapters of this
monograph.
The literature in the field of the agent systems is extensive and this work does not
discuss all the problems related to the agent and agent systems. Different approaches
to the agent systems, from the more formal ones to general descriptions of practical
applications, may be found in numerous works. There are also some topics on the
application of tools and methods form different fields (artificial intelligence, the
theory of games, the theory of decision-making, negotiations and others). Therefore,
it seems that the problematic aspects of the agent systems are still developing and
may provide us with much inspiration for our future research.
Finally, the concluding methodological remark. The notion of the agent is not an
extension of the notion of the object . They both exist in parallel to each other and
the application of the notion of the agent does not exclude (or replace) the use of the
concept of the object. In certain justified cases they may be successfully applied at
the same time. However, the point of the agent concept is the capability to observe the
environment, and particularly changes that take place in this environment, perceive
other agents and their influence on the environment, which results in the above—
mentioned changes in the environment.