networking, chat, World-Wide Web (From "
robot") Any type
user or a
program or simulates a human activity. On the
Internet, the most popular bots are programs (called
them; then they generate catalogs that are accessed by
searchengines.
A
chatbot converses with humans (or other bots). A
shopbot searches the Web to find the best price for a
product. Other bots (such as
OpenSesame) observe a user's
patterns in navigating a web site and customises the site for
that user.
(1999-05-20)