Are We Measuring What Matters? Reframing Evaluation of Extended Reality for Industry 5.0 Work Environments

Current approaches to evaluating extended reality (XR) systems in industrial settings are narrowly focused on usability, device performance, or user experience, while overlooking broader systemic impacts. We argue that this limited scope is misaligned with the challenges and values of future workspaces. As XR technologies become more integrated into manufacturing and training environments, evaluation methods must expand to reflect the principles of Industry 5.0: human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. In this position paper, we propose a multi-dimensional evaluation framework that incorporates task-technology fit alongside environmental, human, and operational criteria. The proposed framework enables structured, phase-specific assessment of XR systems to guide responsible deployment and adoption. We call on the XR research community to shift from fragmented metrics toward holistic evaluation practices that ensure XR contributes to more efficient, equitable, regenerative, and future-ready work environments.