If it can survive, Accent's subsidiary is developing fantastic software. There was a favorable article in the 5/4/98 Business Week and the following from the SJ Mercury News, April 27, 1998, by DAN GILLMOR:
''Dear Agent: I'm shopping for a new raincoat, because El Ni¤o won't
go away. Please check the Website men's clothing catalogs and, as
soon as their spring sales begin, let me know when the prices come
down below $100.''
That mock message to a computer hints at the potential for agent
software -- programs that automate the hunting and searching we all
find ourselves doing on the Web. Agents can save time, and they don't
get bored.
AgentSoft Ltd., based in Jerusalem, is working on some Java-based
programs that are getting great reviews. Bruce Krulwich, the
company's senior research scientist, and several of his colleagues
showed me some sample agents that were rough around the edges, at
least from a fit-and-finish standpoint, but nonetheless struck me as a big
step toward that Web-automation holy grail. I was especially intrigued
with one that gathered information about companies from a variety of
Web-sites; if I were gathering background material on a company this
would be a huge help.
The company has posted a beta version of LiveAgent Pro 1.1, which is
aimed at Web developers on corporate intranets and publicly accessible
Internet Websites. You can find demonstration applications, which run
only in the 4.0 and above versions of Netscape and Microsoft
browsers, on the company's Website (www.agentsoft.com/demos).
''We're focusing on the user who is able to find things, but who lacks
the time and energy,'' Krulwich said. ''The information on the Web is
valuable, but browsing the Web isn't.''
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