A team of curriculum specialists, technology specialists, university based computer scientists and technical experts led by the women owned business, Tutorbots will collaborate to that utilizes intelligent tutoring systems, artificial intelligence and 3D character animation to produce the Tutorbots . The project will use natural language processing, neural networks and fuzzy logic software developed at Stanford University that enables student to engage in real time, conversations as the Tutorbot facilitates the student's acquisition of higher order reading skills. During Phase 1, Tutorbots, Inc. will create an intelligent tutoring prototype, named SALLY (System to Advance Lifelong Literacy) that contains domain specific content designed to assess and teach higher-order reading and comprehension skills to secondary students in grades 9 through 12. SALLY will appear as a virtual character who converses with learners in one-on-one in natural language. She can manipulate Web content, stimulate critical thinking and adapt her assistance to the learner's needs. She can maintain records of the student's achievement and provide feedback and remediation techniques. These lifelike pedagogical agents can create rich, face-to-face learning possibilities for students. Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications: While still in the experimental stages, it is anticipated that the Tutorbot will be able to demonstrate complex tasks, uses movement and gestures, and convey emotional responses. Animated pedagogical agents offer great promise for increasing students motivation and engagement in the learning activity. Funding from the Small Business Innovation Research Program will enable Tutorbots, Inc. to create, deploy and beta test SALLY . Based on user feedback and both qualitative and quantitative measurements as defined in our evaluation rubric, the authoring shell and SALLY will be refined. It is anticipated that the results of Phase I of SALLY's development will be that the many issues surrounding the deployment of an intelligent tutoring system will be researched and resolved. After alpha testing, the program will be introduced on the Tutorbots.com website for demonstration to the field and beta testing with high school students who have been identified as needing to improve their higher order reading skills. The revolutionary implications for the Tutorbot extend beyond the field of education. Applications in industry, business, health, and government are being deployed. Intelligent agents can be used for training, website hosts, online sales representatives, customer service, and product description devices. In the health field, there are adaptive learning guides being developed that can monitor a patients health at home. Since an ITS is built with artificial intelligence have the capacity to reason, learn, understand and solve problems, it is plausible to characterize them as a "personal tutor." Theoretically, the Tutorbot will be able to identify a student's weakness, strengths, and style of learning. The system can process information, recognize patterns of behavior, identify misconceptions and establish a plan of instruction.
