The virtual worlds of cyberspace are populated by electronic beings that are essential to the real-time functioning of society. The most widespread of these are intelligent agents living in symbiosis with human beings.
Agents are expert programs that have three characteristics.
First of all, their programming is object-oriented, which gives them a great deal of flexibility to adapt to the missions assigned them. Second, they are extremely mobile in the networks, because they know all the connection and interface procedures. Third, they are parameterable, and can be given any form or style desired. They are personalized by their employers, and they are involved in a great many types of transactions. Let us look at how an intelligent agent faxes a document requested by a correspondent.