The Open Virtual Reality Journal

2009, 1 : 1-7
Published online 2009 April 7. DOI: 10.2174/1875323X01001010001
Publisher ID: TOVRJ-1-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Relational Agents: A Critical Review

Robert H. Campbell, * , Mark N. Grimshaw and Gillian M. Green
Senior Lecturer in Computing and Networks, University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Reader in Creative Technologies. University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Senior Research Fellow. University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK

* Address correspondence to this author at the University of Bolton. Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK; Tel: (+44)1204 903417; E-mail: R.H.Campbell@bolton.ac.uk

ABSTRACT

Relationships between people who meet in virtual worlds are common and these relationships can be long term, in some cases lasting a life-time. Although relationships formed in virtual worlds have invited a lot of recent interest, surprisingly little work has been done on developing computer agents and non-player characters that can actively participate in such relationships. The focus of this review is relational agents, agents that can build long term socioemotional relationships with users. In virtual worlds, such agents are just starting to emerge; they are more common in other environments but remain few and far between. This review critically assesses the progress of relational agent development and research since their inception in 2005, proposes new areas of research and considers the potential for their exploitation in virtual worlds.