About Windows Live Agents

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About Windows Live Agents

A Windows Live Agent is an interactive, web-based robot that analyzes an end-user's queries and matches them to the topic questions that are stored in the knowledge database. When a match is found, the agent displays the corresponding response. Users" talk" with the agent in an instant Windows Live (IM) type of environment or on an HTTP-based page.

The agent utilizes natural language handles to enable users to interact with the agent in a conversational manner. Natural language handles help the agent quickly and accurately find a response to an end user's queries. By following a few simple guidelines, developers can create agents that rapidly deliver useful information to the end users.

An agent can include the following features and functionality
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This list is not comprehensive; rather, it is an example of features and functionalities.

    * Text Based Games (i.e. hangman, trivia, word scramble, blackjack, reverse, connect-4, manicdotes)
    * Activities such as games, videos, pictures, web interactions, etc. (developed by the client and integrated into the Windows Live Agent)
    * User-to-User Crush
    * User-to-User- Messaging
    * Integration with External Data
    * Alerts / Notifications
    * User-to-User Polls
    * Daily Polls
    * Scripted Natural Language Question and Answers or Dialog(s)
    * Storage of User Data (i.e. preferences, location, etc.)
    * Windows Live Search Integration
    * Customize the Personality. Agents can be developed to be reflective of a specific personality. Customizing the agent's personality ensures that your Agent is unique and representative of your brand / product or perhaps even a character (i.e. an agent promoting a movie may want to take on the personality of the main character). You may choose the agent's gender, age group, disposition (cheerful, playful, etc.), location, etc. In addition, you may specify whether or not you want the agent to "learn" things such as behavior and opinions based on individual or aggregate user input. Integrating customized responses to common user questions and tailoring characteristic words or phrases allows the agent to become even more reflective of a brand / product.
    * Integration of Data Feeds / Web Services. Data feeds can be integrated into Agents in order to provide users with real-time information such as movies playing in their area, weather, sports scores, etc. Providing real-time information increases return visits and makes Agents compelling to users. A user's preferences (zip code, favorite sport team, etc.) can be remembered by the agent * so that a user does not have to re-enter their personal information every time they interact with the agent. * Assuming the user is over the age of 12
    * Valuable Reporting. Usage statistics pertaining to traffic such as number of unique users, average length of sessions, number of queries, as well as user demographics are provided via a secure website.
    * Content Updates. Content can be updated on a weekly basis (i.e. new weekly polls, new trivia questions, etc.) to ensure that the agent is fresh and that users have a compelling reason to return.
    * Windows Live Activities. Agents can integrate Windows Live Activities in which users can play games, watch movie trailers, see pictures, etc. Windows Live Activities Window makes an agent particularly compelling and differentiates Windows Live Agents from bots that are launched on other networks.
    * Windows Live Alerts. Users can subscribe to receive alerts from the Agents (the notification can go straight to a website).

Source : MSDN