Interaction, Mediation and Intelligence: Towards the Integration of Communicating Objects into Intelligent Systems.

Overview & Synopsis

The evolution of socio-technical systems, Human-Machine dialogues, and complex informational environments relies on the integration of communicating objects into intelligent systems. This integration calls for a multidisciplinary approach that brings together Information and Communication Sciences (ICS), computer science, cognitive sciences, and socio-cognitive ergonomics. The core objective is to transform data and information into actionable knowledge to support decision-making processes. This dynamic is structured around three key axes: knowledge engineering, Human-Machine interaction, and decision-making complexity. Rather than focusing solely on defining communicating objects, the research aims to understand the processes that make them intelligent, adaptive, and strategically valuable— particularly in the context of competitive intelligence. This theoretical framework translates into the development of participatory and cooperative systems based on interaction between human actors and technical artifacts. Emphasis is placed on affordances, real-world uses, and the structuring of symbolic and perceptual information. Competitive intelligence, as a systemic process, exemplifies the relationship between information, action, and organizational performance. Our contribution adopts a dual theoretical and applied perspective, through the design of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) dedicated to scientific and technical information monitoring, with a specific focus on heritage resources. Two major challenges are explored: 1. The organization of knowledge derived from heterogeneous multimedia heritage resources; 2. The design of intelligent processes for indexing, annotation, and re-indexing based on user interaction and usage. We propose an approach that integrates Natural Language Processing (NLP) and user knowledge to structure an intelligent information system, capable of adapting its responses to the evolving needs of both decision-makers and end users.