Embodiment at Work: A Framework for Human–Technology Interaction in the Future Workplace

Abstract: Emerging technologies are reshaping the future of work, where tasks are increasingly mediated by remote, robotic, and immersive systems. As teleoperation, exoskeletons, and hybrid collaboration tools become more widespread, a central but underexamined question arises: what does it mean for humans to feel embodied in these systems? The sense of embodiment - the cognitive experience of ownership, agency, and self-location - has been shown to affect performance, learning, and well-being. Yet, its role in shaping the future of work has not been systematically theorized. Without a clear framework, human–technology systems risk being designed around efficiency rather than human experience, potentially undermining usability, ergonomics, and inclusivity.This paper offers a conceptual contribution by positioning embodiment as a key factor in understanding and guiding the evolution of work in teleoperated and hybrid environments. Three literatures provide the foundation. First, perceptual studies of embodiment in virtual environments highlight the importance of multisensory congruence but rarely address real-world labor or applied ergonomics. Second, kinesthetic learning research underscores how haptic and proprioceptive channels support skill acquisition, yet these insights remain underutilized in teleoperation and future-of-work design. Third, human factors and ergonomics research has traditionally focused on workload, fatigue, and safety, but has not integrated embodiment as a mediating construct. Together, these literatures reveal both a gap and an opportunity: embodiment can serve as a bridge linking psychological experience with organizational outcomes.The framework proposed here conceptualizes embodiment in future work settings as a multi-layered construct: (1) Perceptual embodiment, emphasizing the sensory congruence necessary for users to feel present and effective in remote or hybrid tasks; (2) Motor embodiment, focusing on the kinesthetic alignment between human operators and robotic or wearable systems, which shapes both productivity and skill transfer; and (3) Social embodiment, which extends to collaboration, trust, and presence in distributed teams. These dimensions provide a roadmap for theorizing embodiment not only as an individual experience, but also as a structural factor shaping the organization of work itself.These dimensions provide a roadmap for theorizing embodiment not only as an individual experience but also as a structural factor shaping the organization of work itself. For instance, in remote surgery, perceptual and motor embodiment influence accuracy and safety; in industrial teleoperation, they affect workload and adaptability; in hybrid conferencing and education, social embodiment determines whether remote participants feel included and empowered.This paper contributes to human factors theory and practice in three ways. First, it provides a unifying lens to connect fragmented strands of research across ergonomics, immersive systems, and the learning sciences. Second, it outlines testable hypotheses and methodological pathways - such as cross-modal congruency tasks, motion analysis, and presence measures - for empirically validating embodiment in applied contexts. Third, it highlights design implications, suggesting how adaptive control systems, wearable interfaces, and immersive platforms can be intentionally shaped to support inclusive, human-centered, and ergonomically sustainable workplaces.

Keywords: Human–Technology Interaction, Future of Work, Embodiment, Ergonomics, Teleoperation, Kinesthetic Learning, Hybrid Collaboration, Human Factors

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006992

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