Computer-Aided Exploration of Virtual Environments

We introduce an intelligent "guide" that assists users in learning about and exploring in virtual environments, particularly MUDs. The guide itself acts independently of the user, while the user controls his or her own avatar. In addition to accepting options offered by the guide, our system allows the user to direct the avatar by explicit MUD commands as well as via abstract instructions and constraints. The guide, in addition to scanning the MUD environment for actions and knowledge to present to the user, can communicate with the user, suggest activities, and record user preferences to tailor its behavior across multiple sessions.