Pen-Based Interaction in Industry 5.0: Fostering Trust Through Error Resolution

This thesis explores the role of pen-based communication modalities in fostering trust within Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) under the paradigms of Industry 5.0. It examines how these modalities influence trust development and maintenance, particularly during system errors, and evaluates their effectiveness compared to tablet-based methods. By integrating insights from both real-world field studies and Virtual Reality experiments, the findings highlight the potential of pen-based interactions to enhance intuitive communication and user control, especially in tasks requiring precision or symbolic input. However, pen-based interfaces do not consistently outperform tablet-based methods in terms of usability and cognitive efficiency.
The research also investigates trust dynamics in the context of system malfunctions, revealing that trust, while fragile during errors, can be effectively restored through robust design and feedback mechanisms. Furthermore, the thesis examines the potential of hybrid interaction systems, suggesting that pen-based modalities can complement other methods to optimize multimodal interaction in industrial settings. These insights contribute to the understanding of trust and usability in advanced HRI systems, offering valuable guidance for designing flexible, user-centered solutions for Industry 5.0 applications.