Assessing Human Factors in Virtual Reality Environments for Industry 5.0: A Comprehensive Review of Factors, Metrics, Techniques, and Future Opportunities

Industry 5.0, the latest evolution in industrial processes, builds upon the principles of Industry 4.0 by emphasizing human-centric approaches and the integration of virtual reality technologies. This paradigm shift underscores the importance of collaboration between humans and advanced technologies with a focus on optimizing efficiency, safety, and worker skill development. Based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this study conducts a systematic literature review, identifying 328 papers from databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 papers were selected for detailed analysis. The review provides valuable insights into the diverse evaluation methods employed in the literature, and a detailed classification of 29 human factors with their associated metrics. Despite the absence of a standardized method for assessing human factors in VR experiences, this comprehensive analysis of 240 different ways of measuring factors highlights the current state of evaluating human-centered VR experiences in Industry 5.0. While the review reveals some limitations such as potential bias in study selection and heterogeneity of methods, it also identifies significant research gaps and proposes future directions. This study contributes to the establishment of a coherent structure for future research and development in human-centered design within the rapidly evolving landscape of Industry 5.0, paving the way for more effective and standardized approaches in the future.