A rumination on human-centered automation world: multiagent system, human interface and people's lifestyle

The cyberworld or cybersociety of the future is discussed with respect to: (i) its significance, (ii) the infrastructure of such a world, (iii) the plausible configurations of a cybersociety which comprises an information community of virtual schools, libraries, factories, offices, communities and homes, etc., connected via the information highway, and (iv) people's lifestyles. Then, human interfaces, virtual reality and agents are discussed as the key technologies for realizing the cybersociety. Lastly, an interface agent of a virtual collaborator is proposed as a humanized intelligent interface agent system for helping with the operation and maintenance tasks of automated plants in the future.