BUILDING SOFTWARE AGENTS FOR TRAINING SYSTEMS - A CASE-STUDY ON RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT PLANNING

The main aim of this paper is to discuss the design issues and implica tions that relate to the use of software agents in Training Systems. W e have designed and implemented a Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Lear ning Environment (called RATAPLAN), which incorporates an interface in telligent agent to support training of Simulation Technologists and Ra diation Physicists in this knowledge domain. The learning environment consists of an interactive simulation. The interface agent (called Con sulta) acts both as demonstrator and assistant to the users. The paper describes in depth the agent's architecture and illustrates the agent -user interaction and communication. With Consulta we promote the coll aboration between novice and expert practitioners in Radiotherapy Trea tment Planning. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.