From definition to deployment: What next for agent-based systems?

The rapid development of the field of agent-based systems offers a new and exciting paradigm for the development of sophisticated programs in dynamic and open environments, particularly in distributed domains such as web-base d systems of various kinds, and electronic commerce. However, the speed of progress has been such that it has also brought with it a new set of proble ms. This paper reviews the current state of research into agent-based syste ms, considering reasons for the way the field has grown, and pointing at th e way it might continue to progress. It pays particular attention to proble ms with defining the nature of agents, the technologies that have enabled t he rapid progress to date, and ways in which work can be consolidated throu gh the development of large-scale applications, and the integration with th eoretical foundations.