This thesis examines the problem of having an intelligent agent reasoning about interaction with users in real-time decision making environments. Our work is motivated by the models of Fleming and Cheng, which reason about interaction sensitive to both expected quality of decision (following interaction) and cost of bothering users. In particular, we are interested in dynamic, time critical scenarios. This leads first of all to a novel process known as strategy regeneration, whereby the parameter values representing the users and the task at hand are refreshed periodically, in order to make effective decisions about which users to interact with, for the best decision making. We also introduce two new parameters that are modeled: each user's lack of expertise (with the task at hand) and the level of criticality of each task. These factors are then integrated into the process of reasoning about interaction to choose the best overall strategy, deciding which users to ask to resolve the current task. We illustrate the value of our framework for the application of decision making in hospital emergency room scenarios and offer validation of the approach, both through examples and from simulations. To sum up, we provide a framework for reasoning about interaction with users through user modeling for dynamic environments. In addition, we present some insights into how to improve the process of hospital emergency room decision making.

This thesis examines the problem of having an intelligent agent reasoning about interaction with users in real-time decision making environments. Our work is motivated by the models of Fleming and Cheng, which reason about interaction sensitive to both expected quality of decision (following interaction) and cost of bothering users. In particular, we are interested in dynamic, time critical scenarios. This leads first of all to a novel process known as strategy regeneration, whereby the parameter values representing the users and the task at hand are refreshed periodically, in order to make effective decisions about which users to interact with, for the best decision making. We also introduce two new parameters that are modeled: each user's lack of expertise (with the task at hand) and the level of criticality of each task. These factors are then integrated into the process of reasoning about interaction to choose the best overall strategy, deciding which users to ask to resolve the current task. We illustrate the value of our framework for the application of decision making in hospital emergency room scenarios and offer validation of the approach, both through examples and from simulations. To sum up, we provide a framework for reasoning about interaction with users through user modeling for dynamic environments. In addition, we present some insights into how to improve the process of hospital emergency room decision making.

Dès le XIe siècle, le royaume de France est témoin du retour d’un mal terrifiant : la lèpre. L’Auvergne n’est pas épargnée et souffre de la maladie dès le début du XIIe siècle au moins. L’endémie frappe alors les populations et contraint les autorités locales à réagir pour stopper la propagation du mal avec, notamment, l’installation de plusieurs léproseries. Au sein du diocèse de Clermont, ce sont les Montferrandais qui sont les plus organisés avec un tribunal fondé sur une procédure inquisitoire atypique et unique en France : « la Purge ». Les origines de cette juridiction sont obscures. L’historien n’en saisit l’existence et le fonctionnement qu’au début du XIVe siècle, quand elle est créée ou officialisée sous la forme d’un tribunal royal, utilisé ensuite jusqu’au XVIIe siècle. La Purge, détenue et présidée par les consuls de Montferrand, a pour but de convoquer, d’examiner, de juger puis d’écarter de la société saine les lépreux en Auvergne, mais aussi dans les pays voisins. La recherche porte sur l’histoire de la lèpre (premières mentions de la maladie en Auvergne, installation des léproseries, cartographie hospitalière), mais s’attache surtout au tribunal de la Purge. L’étude s’intéresse particulièrement à cet organe juridico-médical, à son origine, à son fonctionnement, à son ressort et aux difficultés rencontrées par la cour royale. Les origines sociales et géographiques des officiers composant l’institution comme leurs carrières sont également appréhendées au moyen de l’outil prosopographique. Le but de la recherche, enfin, est de déterminer quel est le statut du lépreux en Auvergne à la fin du Moyen Âge et au début de l’époque moderne. Les ladres sont-ils traités comme de simples malades ou comme des « criminels » tels que le suppose la masse documentaire de la Purge ? / From the 11th century, the kingdom of France witnesses the return of the terrifying evil : the leprosy. Auvergne is not spared and suffers from the disease from the beginning of the 12th century at least. The endemic disease strikes then the populations and forces the local authorities to react to stop the distribution of the evil with, in particular, the installation of several leper-houses. Within the diocese of Clermont, it is the city of Montferrand which is the most organized with a court based on a procedure atypical and unique in France name "the Purge". The origins of this jurisdiction are dark. The historian seizes the existence with it and the functioning only at the beginning of the 14th century, when it is created or officialized under the shape of a royal court, used then until 17th century. The Purge, held and chaired by the consuls of Montferrand, aims at summoning, at examining, at judging then at pushing aside from the healthy society the lepers in Auvergne, but also in the nearby countries. The research concerns the history of the leprosy (first mentions of the disease in Auvergne, installation of leper-houses, hospitable mapping), but becomes attached especially to the court of the Purge. The study is particularly interested in this juridical-medical organ, in its origin, in its functioning, in its competence and in the difficulties met by the royal court. The social and geographical origins of the officers composing the institution as their careers are also studied by means of the prosopographique tool. The purpose of the search, finally, is to determine what is the status of the leper in Auvergne at the end of the middle Ages and at the beginning of modern time. Are the lepers treated as simple patients or as "criminals" such as supposes it the documentation of the Purge?