Industry 4.0 revolutionized the way manufacturers design, create, and distribute their products. Its focus was on efficiency and productivity using the industrial internet of things (IIOT), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and automation. However, in early 2021 the European Commission released a report introducing Industry 5.0, focusing on the wellbeing of the worker within the production process.
The advent of mobile digital technologies aligns well with the human-centric approach of Industry 5.0. With the manufacturing industry ranking number three for industrial accidents, wearable technology, mobile sensors, and enhanced communication promise safer workplaces for the connected worker. Five applications available or being developed today are worthy of note.