This thesis focuses on the design and the evaluation of the assistive technological solutions dedicated to the aging people. It is based on a framework which proposes a developmental approach of the aging subject. Our research is composed of three main objectives. The first objective is to improve the knowledge of the aging people (with or without cognitive impairments) problems of activity limitations and participation restrictions in society. The second objective is to preserve (or to develop) the empowerment of the persons with and without cognitive impairment, during the daily activities. Finally, the third objective is to enrich the subject model considered in the design. In this research, the design challenge exceeds the compensation and the slowing down of the individual state deterioration. It aims to preserve the residual individual capabilities and to propose the resources for an adequate fallback and the individual capabilities and empowerment development. Our work is based on a multidisciplinary, participatory and user centered design approach. We use ergonomics knowledge to improve the human-machines interactions, psychological knowledge to analyze acceptability and appropriation of the technical assistive devices, and technical knowledge to develop assistive technologies.

Les orthèses cognitives peuvent améliorer l'autonomie des traumatisés craniocérébraux (TCC) sévères, tout en intégrant en continu le processus de réadaptation cognitive aux AIVQ au sein de leur domicile. Dans une démarche de conception participative interdisciplinaire, nos travaux ont permis de passer de la pratique des ergothérapeutes à la spécification formelle de plans d'intervention et à l'implémentation de cette pratique dans des orthèses cognitives. Dans cette thèse, une approche reposant sur les personae illustre d'abord les dysfonctionnements chez les TCC, leurs besoins d'assistance, ainsi que les besoins de leurs aidants. Ensuite, deux modèles sont élaborés. Le premier « Gestion dynamique de la réadaptation cognitive » s'intéresse en particulier au choix, à l'adaptation et à l'application d'interventions cognitives fondées sur les données probantes. Le second modèle « Assistance préventive » permet, en situation de danger potentiel, d'assister un TCC de manière progressive et adaptée pour écarter ce danger. Ces modèles sont utilisés de deux manières. D'une part, leur implémentation sous forme d'ontologie OWL illustre comment l'assistance peut être rendue sensible au contexte, dynamique et personnalisée. D'autre part, ils guident la conception et l'implémentation de COOK, une orthèse cognitive pour la préparation de repas, et d'un système de sécurité autonome (SSA) dédié à la prévention et à la sécurité des TCC lors de la préparation de repas. Finalement, une architecture logicielle pour la construction d'orthèses cognitives et dérivée.COOK et SSA ont été déployés au sein d'une résidence pour TCC. Trois résidents peuvent maintenant cuisiner de manière autonome. / Severe traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is considered a public health problem. ; Indeed, severe TBI causes significant cognitive, emotional and behavioral repercussions that impact the lives of these individuals, particularly their independence in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). Individuals who have experienced severe TBI frequently return to live in their homes despite the severe difficulties associated with their condition, though the need for assistance to perform IADLs frequently persists. The objective of this thesis is to design, represent, formalize and implement a context-aware and adaptive structure of cognitive assistance. This assistance is created according to the general needs of individuals with severe TBI for IADL performance. The proposed assistance will promote their independence to perform IADL in a home environment. The design of this cognitive assistance technology involves an interdisciplinary collaboration between occupational therapy and computer science, to evolve from the assistance provided by the clinicians to a formal computer science formulation and implementation. This design is based on a participative design approach that mainly involves TBI residents of a smart alternative housing unit.A prototype of a cognitive orthotic for meal preparation (COOK) was created and deployed within an alternative housing unit. Implementation of this cognitive orthotic lifted the prohibition on use of a stove for meal preparation that had previously been place on their residents. By allowing these residents to cook independently, COOK has contributed to helping them become more independent in cooking and more confident in their ability to do so.