CPHS–XR: A Unifying Framework for Understanding Cyber Physical Human Systems in the Realm of Extended Reality
摘要
As digital, physical, and human systems continue to converge, the vocabulary used to describe these integrations has become increasingly fragmented. Terms such as Human Computer Interaction, Human Machine Interaction, Cyber Physical Systems, Human Extended Reality Interaction, and Cyber Physical Human Systems (CPHS) describe varying system configurations in which humans, technologies, and environments interact to achieve shared goals. However, the proliferation and overlapping use of these terms have introduced conceptual ambiguity, complicating system comparison, evaluation, and design. This paper introduces the CPHS–XR framework as an enhanced and structured extension of CPHS. While grounded in the foundational tripartite structure, which comprises cyber, physical, and human components, CPHS–XR adds conceptual clarity by introducing technology enablers as cross-cutting elements that empower system components without altering their core integration. These enablers, such as extended reality, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, and perceptual technologies, give rise to diverse system behaviors, resulting in variations like immersive, adaptive, predictive, or actuated CPHS. Building on this foundation, the paper proposes a taxonomy based on three dimensions: immersion level, decision-making level, and granularity assignment. This taxonomy provides a systematic method for classifying CPHS variations as empowered configurations rather than as disconnected or standalone system types. By simplifying terminological complexity and contextualizing system evolution, the framework supports system classification, design, and analysis across domains. It also lays a foundation for future research in human-centered AI, immersive interfaces, and adaptive systems by ensuring that emerging technologies enhance rather than fragment the integration between human operators and cyber-physical systems.