Embodied and Embedded Intelligence: Actor Agents on Virtual Stages

In this chapter, it is argued that the scope of simulation pedagogy can be extended beyond the medical health field with the development of actor agents on virtual stages. The literature on animated pedagogical agents is reviewed with a focus on embodied intelligence, and in particular, conversational ability. The embedded intelligence of virtual worlds is also reviewed, including the deployment of computer controlled avatars. The next section presents a review of work involving actor agents in Second Life including the authors’ research. A few of the major challenges are described and a conclusion is presented regarding the opportunities afforded by actor agents and virtual stages. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-842-2.ch018