Software agents can be defined in a number of different ways depending on the functions under consideration. In a simple term, software agents can be regarded as computational autonomous entities that are capable of sensing (such as acquiring data) and acting (such as producing and sending information) in an environment (such as a course Web server) to accomplish a set of designated goals. The following is a list of websites that I find useful for learning more research on software agents.

• AgentLink: Europe’s network of excellence for agent-based computing
• Intelligent Software Agent Labs at Carnegie Mellon University
• UMBC Agent Web. A collection of items that offer an introduction or overview of key agent-related concepts and technologies.
• MIT Media Lab - Software Agent Group
• The Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA). FIPA is a non-profit organisation aimed at producing standards for the interoperation of heterogeneous software agents