Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Computing and Artificial Intelligence".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 38422

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Byung Yong Jeong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Hansung University, Seoul 02876, Republic of Korea
Interests: occupational safety and health; human factors and ergonomics; user-centered design; universal safety and design; safety and health management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Yonghwan Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Smart Experience Design, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
Interests: user experience strategy; human factors in design; interaction design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ken Nah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Design Management, IDAS, Hongik University, Seoul 03082, Republic of Korea
Interests: human factors; ergonomic design; design management; design research; design thinking; industrial engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The physical and cognitive characteristics of workers and consumers have become increasingly diversified. As a research field focusing on such diversification, human–computer interaction explores the relationship between humans and technologies, computers/robots, environments, and systems. Smart factory and Industry 4.0 have recently emerged as essential concepts related to human-centered automated systems, both of which strive to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and customization of the worker–consumer domain by integrating digital technologies and human characteristics into manufacturing and service processes. This Special Issue addresses different disciplinary backgrounds and domains in order to study the applicability of digital technologies in social interactions. Incorporating human factors and interaction into the design of technology can accommodate various individual preferences and abilities, in addition to minimizing hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. This approach focuses on understanding humans in relation to the manufacturing process, public spaces, cultural anthropology, and information processing, and explore human–human, human–product, human–computer/robot, and human–system interactions.

We welcome the submission of original works, reviews, and short communications, with topics including the following:

UI/UX design and human-centered systems;
Computing and artificial intelligence in Industry 4.0 and Operator 4.0;
Work-related injuries and illnesses in the era of Industry 4.0;
Human–computer interaction/social robotics and human–robot interaction;
Behavioral, physiological, micro, and macro ergonomics;
State-of-the-art reviews that cover all aspects of social interactions.

Prof. Dr. Byung Yong Jeong
Prof. Dr. Yonghwan Pan
Prof. Dr. Ken Nah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

human-centered design
human–computer interaction
user experience and interaction design
universal safety and design
work-related safety and health
sustainable and accessible design
social robotics and human–robot interaction
human factors in computing and artificial intelligence

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

28 pages, 3332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Classifying and Characterizing Fandom Activities: A Focus on Superfans’ Posting and Commenting Behaviors in a Digital Fandom Community

by Yeoreum Lee and Sangkeun Park

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4723; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094723 - 24 Apr 2025

Viewed by 397

Abstract

As digital fandom communities expand and diversify, user engagement patterns increasingly shape the social and emotional fabric of online platforms. In the era of Industry 4.0, data-driven approaches are transforming how online communities understand and optimize user engagement. In this study, we examine how different forms of activity, specifically posting and commenting, characterize fandom engagement on Weverse, a global fan community platform. By applying a clustering approach to large-scale user data, we identify distinct subsets of heavy users, separating those who focus on creating posts (post-heavy users) from those who concentrate on leaving comments (comment-heavy users). A subsequent linguistic analysis using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tool revealed that post-heavy users typically employ a structured, goal-oriented style with collective pronouns and formal tones, whereas comment-heavy users exhibit more spontaneous, emotionally rich expressions enhanced by personalized fandom-specific slang and extensive emoji use. Building on these findings, we propose design implications such as pinning community-driven content, offering contextual translations for fandom-specific slang, and introducing reaction matrices that address the unique needs of each group. Taken together, our results underscore the value of distinguishing multiple dimensions of engagement in digital fandoms, providing a foundation for more nuanced platform features that can enhance positive user experience, social cohesion, and sustained community growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Program to Improve Cognitive and Physical Abilities in Older People

by Eun-Ji Chung and Jin-Ho Yim

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2677; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052677 - 2 Mar 2025

Viewed by 817

Abstract

Integrated programs combining two or more interventions, such as cognitive training and exercise, are attracting attention as a non-pharmacological treatment of dementia. Challenges in implementation, along with a lack of strategies to sustain engagement and motivation, have limited integrated programs in Korea. This study developed an integrated program using gamification strategies to improve cognition and physical strength in older people and evaluated its effectiveness. The study was conducted for 8 weeks in the form of stepping training using the Stroop effect on 24 adults aged 65 years or older. With this intervention, cognitive function significantly increased (p = 0.007); in particular, memory (p = 0.005) and language function (p = 0.042) showed significant improvement. Physical performance also significantly improved (p = 0.001), and the reward strategy had the highest satisfaction with 4.29 points in the user satisfaction survey. Thus, an integrated program is effective in improving cognition and physical performance in aging adults, and gamification has a positive effect on increasing persistence and motivation in older people. This study can be a useful reference in developing cognitive enhancement programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ergonomic Panel Angles for Kitchen Appliances with Cooker Knobs

by Minseok Son, Sehee An and Donghyun Beck

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11352; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311352 - 5 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1012

Abstract

Kitchen appliance control panels come in various designs, each with different parameter values. Of these design parameters, the panel angle is a key factor that impacts both usability and user preference. This study empirically investigates the effects of panel angles on the usability of knob panels in kitchen appliances. The research focused on identifying the optimal panel angles for visibility, physical comfort, and user preference. Six different panel angles (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) were tested through an experimental setup simulating a typical kitchen environment. Twenty participants, with experience in operating kitchen appliances, provided subjective ratings on the three usability factors using a 7-point Likert scale. The results demonstrated significant impacts of panel angle on all three measures, with angles between 45° and 60° showing the highest usability scores. The study highlights that the appropriate panel angle for knob panels should fall between 30° and 90°, with 45° to 60° being the optimal range. The results of this study could contribute to the ergonomic design of kitchen appliances, enhancing usability and minimizing human errors and response times during emergencies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Continuous Usage Intention in E-Commerce Marketplace Platforms: The Effects of Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Trust

by Jongnam Kim and Kyeongmin Yum

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7617; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177617 - 28 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4180

Abstract

E-commerce marketplace platforms have evolved into integral digital intermediaries that shape online transactions in competitive environments. Companies continuously endeavor to improve e-service quality, customer satisfaction, and e-trust to gain a competitive advantage. This study aimed to identify the relationships between e-service quality, customer satisfaction, e-trust, and continuous usage intention in e-commerce marketplace platforms. Moreover, this study examined the roles of customer satisfaction and e-trust as mediators. We estimated nine hypothesized relationships using a structural equation modeling technique. Data from 311 users were used in the data analysis. The results are as follows: First, e-service quality significantly and positively affects customer satisfaction, e-trust, and continuous usage intention. Second, customer satisfaction has a significant and positive impact on e-trust and continuous usage intention. Third, e-trust has a significant and positive impact on continuous usage intention. Finally, both customer satisfaction and e-trust serve as significant mediating factors in the relationship between e-service quality and continuous usage intention. These insights hold strategic importance for e-commerce marketplace platform operators, allowing them to formulate service strategies and policies tailored to enhance user experience, foster trust, and drive continued usage, thereby strengthening their market position and ensuring sustained success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Manufacturing Workers and Structural Causality among Work Environment, Work–Family Conflict, Musculoskeletal Pain, Sleep-Related Problems, and Burnout

by Jun Won Kim and Byung Yong Jeong

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7489; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177489 - 24 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1234

Abstract

This study analyzes the association and structural causality among work environment, work–family conflict, musculoskeletal pain, sleep-related problems, and burnout in the food manufacturing industry. This study used the 6th Korean Working Environment Survey data, and 523 food production workers were selected as research subjects. Structural equation modeling showed that work environment and work–family conflict significantly affected musculoskeletal pain. In addition, work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain affected sleep-related problems, and musculoskeletal pain and sleep-related problems impacted burnout. Furthermore, this research provides practical strategies to deal with musculoskeletal pain, sleep-related issues, and burnout. Burnout is more affected by sleep-related problems than by musculoskeletal pain. Additionally, sleep-related problems seem to be more affected by musculoskeletal pain than by work–family conflict. Meanwhile, musculoskeletal pain is influenced by the work environment rather than by work–family conflict. This result can be used to establish preventive policies for the safety and health of food manufacturing production workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Perceived Value, Customer Satisfaction, and Trust on Loyalty in Entertainment Platforms

by Kyeongmin Yum and Jongnam Kim

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5763; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135763 - 1 Jul 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 12212

Abstract

This study explores the intricate relationships between perceived value, customer satisfaction, trust, and loyalty in the context of the dynamic online entertainment platform industry. As the entertainment landscape has evolved from traditional formats to digital and interactive experiences, businesses face intense competition and the need to innovate to attract and retain users. This study introduces a comprehensive research model that defines perceived value in three dimensions: utilitarian, hedonic, and social. It also investigates the roles of customer satisfaction and trust as mediators in the connection between perceived value and loyalty. A survey of entertainment platform users reveals that enhancing utilitarian and hedonic values can increase customer satisfaction and that all three perceived value dimensions positively influence trust. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between utilitarian value and loyalty and fully mediates the relationship between hedonic value and loyalty; however, trust does not act as a mediator in this context. The theoretical implications enhance our understanding of these relationships while the managerial implications provide actionable insights for businesses seeking to refine their customer-focused approaches in the competitive online entertainment landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure Time to Work-Related Hazards and Factors Affecting Musculoskeletal Pain in Nurses

by Woo Jin Kim and Byung Yong Jeong

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2468; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062468 - 14 Mar 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2498

Abstract

Nurses who work in hospitals are exposed to various occupational hazards and are recognized as having high rates of musculoskeletal pain. This study aims to estimate the level of exposure to work-related hazards for nurses working in hospitals and derive factors that affect back pain, upper limb pain, and lower limb pain. This study was conducted on 462 nurses from the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS) data, deriving exposure time related to physical, biochemical, and ergonomic hazards. Also, using binomial logistic regression analysis, this study determines the factors influencing musculoskeletal pain by comprehensively considering work-related factors and physical, biochemical, and ergonomic hazards. The exposure time for standing is the highest, followed by repetitive movements, awkward postures, patient lifting/carrying, infection, heavy object handling, and vibration. The average exposure times to occupational hazards were higher for nurses experiencing pain in their back, upper limbs, and lower limbs than those without pain complaints. Factors that contribute to back pain include years of work experience (p = 0.002), type of healthcare establishment (p = 0.001), exposure level to vibration (p = 0.029), and awkward posture level (p < 0.001). Factors affecting upper limb pain include the type of shift work (p = 0.013), handling heavy objects (p < 0.001), awkward postures (p = 0.033), and repetitive movements (p = 0.002). The factors that influence lower limb pain are awkward posture (p = 0.001), patient lifting/carrying (p = 0.002), and repetitive movements (p = 0.006). This study emphasizes the importance of implementing strategies to improve occupational hazards to prevent or alleviate musculoskeletal pain. These findings provide practical guidance for managing risk factors and preventing musculoskeletal disorders among nursing professionals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

15 pages, 3058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Which Thumb, the Left or Right, Touches the Letter Keys on a Smartphone QWERTY Soft Keyboard during Two-Thumb Key Entry?

by Hayeon Yu, Yunha Park and Joonho Chang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(22), 12417; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132212417 - 16 Nov 2023

Viewed by 2614

Abstract

This study aims to observe which thumb, the left or right, is used for keystrokes and examine the patterns during two-thumb key entry on a smartphone QWERTY soft keyboard. A total of 36 college students, including 18 left-handed and 18 right-handed, were recruited for testing, and they had 9.7 years of smartphone use experience on average. A smartphone application was implemented, and whether the left or right thumb was used for touch interactions was recorded for each of the 26 letter keys. As a result, it was found that there were slightly more letter keys that were statistically more often tapped by the left thumb during the two-thumb key entry on the QWERTY soft keyboard, regardless of the participant’s handedness. In addition, all the letter keys were touched statistically more often with the relatively closer one of both thumbs, except for the letter keys G and V in the center. It seemed that the distance between keys and thumbs was regarded as the most important factor influencing the thumb choice for keystrokes, followed by the habituated experience of using physical QWERTY keyboards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Could You Evaluate Sounds in a Virtual Environment? Evaluation Components of Auditory Experience in a Metaverse Environment

by Byoungwoo Park, Kiechan Namkung and Younghwan Pan

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10991; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910991 - 5 Oct 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2011

Abstract

The study aims to develop an auditory experience evaluation questionnaire to improve metaverse environments’ presence and derive evaluation components considering the acoustic and auditory user experience (AUX) through a survey. After conducting a survey with a total of 232 participants, five evaluation components were extracted from auditory presence and AUX evaluation factors through principal component analysis (PCA) and reliability analysis (RA): ‘realistic auditory background’, ‘acoustic aesthetics’, ‘consideration of acoustic control and accessibility’, ‘auditory utility and minimalist design’, and ‘auditory consistency’. In particular, although AUX evaluation factors such as ‘ease of access to sound control’ have limitations in improving the sense of presence, negative factors of presence such as ‘distraction due to sound’ can be improved by utilizing AUX evaluation factors, so it is judged that the sense of presence in the metaverse environments can be improved by enhancing the auditory sense of presence and AUX evaluation factors according to the composition of the five evaluation components derived in the study. The study can be used as a basis for developing an auditory experience evaluation questionnaire for the metaverse platform, creating sound design guidelines, and identifying sound development priorities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Effusivity Tester (TET)—A New Device to Determine Thermal Effusivity of Textiles

by Mohammad Abu-Rous, Susanne Schürz-Peschka, Rajivdrsingh Kishore Sobhee, Jo-Ann Innerlohinger, Josef Lughofer and Walter Milacher

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8749; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158749 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

Thermal effusivity tester (TET) is a new device to measure the thermal conductivity and the thermal effusivity (heat dissipation) of textiles under a defined compression, developed at the R&D department of Lenzing AG (Austria). The device performance was tested by comparing its results with results from commercially available devices Alambeta, TCi Thermal Conductivity Analyzer and Kawabata KES-f thermal module. The fabrics tested were typical knit and weave constructions made of different fiber types, including cotton, wood-based cellulosics and polyester. For most of the fabrics, thermal effusivity results show wide agreement among TET, Alambeta and TCi, and strong positive correlation (r > 0.82) with heat flow (Q_max) as obtained from KES. Deviations were observed for some thicker and more resilient fabrics, most probably caused by the differences in the pressure applied by the devices on the fabric surface. The results show that TET offers a reliable and experimentally flexible approach to assessing thermal effusivity on textile structures and emphasizing the role of the dimensional change induced by the measurement conditions on the measured thermal effusivity and conductivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Footpad Slope, Movement Direction and Contact Part of Foot on Foot-Based Interactions

by Sang-Won Kim and Seung-Kweon Hong

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6636; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116636 - 30 May 2023

Viewed by 2082

Abstract

Feet cannot perform tasks as quickly and with as much dexterity as hands. However, due to the heavy workload placed on hands, there is potential for feet to replace or assist them . In order to use feet more effectively, this study aims to find ways to increase the speed and accuracy of directly touching a touchpad with the feet while in a seated position. The study investigates the effects of three factors: the slope of the touchpad, the direction of the foot movement, and the touch area of the foot used. Regarding the direction of the foot movement, the study found that the most effective direction for both accuracy and speed was at a 30° angle to the right when the front of the right foot was set at 0°. The 0° and 60° angles showed similar efficiencies, but were lower than the 30° angle. The study also found that using the big toe as the touch area resulted in the best speed, accuracy, and subjective satisfaction. The index toe was the second-best option, while using the ball of the foot was the least accurate and slowest option. Lastly, using an slope angle of 15° for the touchpad was found to increase work efficiency compared to using a 7° slope angle. These findings can serve as guidelines for designing foot interfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessReview

Artificial Intelligence and Smart Technologies in Safety Management: A Comprehensive Analysis Across Multiple Industries

by Jiyoung Park and Dongheon Kang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11934; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411934 - 20 Dec 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5777

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and smart technologies into safety management is a pivotal aspect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. This study conducts a systematic literature review to identify and analyze how AI and smart technologies enhance safety management across various sectors within the Safety 4.0 paradigm. Focusing on peer-reviewed journal articles that explicitly mention “Smart”, “AI”, or “Artificial Intelligence” in their titles, the research examines key safety management factors, such as accident prevention, risk management, real-time monitoring, and ethical implementation, across sectors, including construction, industrial safety, disaster and public safety, transport and logistics, energy and power, health, smart home and living, and other diverse industries. AI-driven solutions, such as predictive analytics, machine learning algorithms, IoT sensor integration, and digital twin models, are shown to proactively identify and mitigate potential hazards, optimize energy consumption, and enhance operational efficiency. For instance, in the energy and power sector, intelligent gas meters and automated fire suppression systems manage gas-related risks effectively, while in the health sector, AI-powered health monitoring devices and mental health support applications improve patient and worker safety. The analysis reveals a significant trend towards shifting from reactive to proactive safety management, facilitated by the convergence of AI with IoT and Big Data analytics. Additionally, ethical considerations and data privacy emerge as critical challenges in the adoption of AI technologies. The study highlights the transformative role of AI in enhancing safety protocols, reducing accident rates, and improving overall safety outcomes across industries. It underscores the need for standardized protocols, robust AI governance frameworks, and interdisciplinary research to address existing challenges and maximize the benefits of AI in safety management. Future research directions include developing explainable AI models, enhancing human–AI collaboration, and fostering global standardization to ensure the responsible and effective implementation of AI-driven safety solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Human-Computer Interaction in Smart Factory and Industry 4.0

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI