Title: "Multiagent Systems Meet the Semantic Web in the Aether"

Prof. Tim Finin
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
University of Maryland
Baltimore County, USA

Abstract:

A multiagent systems paradigm has emerged in which autonomous, cooperating processes use rich communication languages and protocols to exchange information and knowledge, share goals and tasks, and coordinate their activities. This vision offers ways to exploit new opportunities of and solve problems created by the Internet and Web. Yet multiagent systems have not yet found broad application. The vision is sound and is being re-invigorated by two new developments: semantic web languages, which provide stronger knowledge sharing technology, and pervasive computing environments, whose requirements match the strengths of multiagent systems. This talk will illustrate these ideas with examples of ongoing research involving intelligent web based systems, smart spaces, adaptable sensor networks and robust ad hoc networking environments.

Biography:

Tim Finin is a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He has over 30 years of experience in the applications of Artificial Intelligence to problems in information systems and is currently working on the theory and applications of intelligent software agents, the semantic web, and mobile computing. He holds degrees from MIT and the University of Illinois and has held positions at Unisys, the University of Pennsylvania, and the MIT AI Laboratory. Finin is the author of over 240 refereed publications and has received research grants and contracts from many sources. He has helped organize several major conferences, including the IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Applications, The ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management, ACM Autonomous Agents conference and the ACM Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing. He is an editor in chief of the Journal of Web Semantics and on the editorial board of several other journals. Finin is a former AAAI councilor and on the Computing Research Association's board of directors.
 

Title: "New Business on Converging Networks - the Emerging Notion of Community-Enabling Services"

Jörg Heuer
Deutsche Telekom Laboratories
Germany

Abstract:

Available soon.

Biography:

Heuer is responsible for Technology Scouting and the publishing of a quarterly report on technology developments for CTO/ CMO level management and innovation departments of Deutsche Telekom group. He is responsible manager for the ‘Overarching AAA Programme’ of the innovation headquarters. Starting his career in DT at T-Systems, he defined and led more than 30 projects for all DT divisions, headquarters, and external customers. His technological focus is on AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting), spanning technology, business models and marketing approaches, working in R&D and standardization, on product concepts and implementations. Heuer has a research background in software technology and distributed systems, originating from his works in parallel computers at what is today the Fraunhofer FIRST institute. There, he was involved into the development of the world’s first object-oriented operating system.