Sensing Techniques in Virtual Reality for Human Interaction: A Bibliometric Analysis

Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a key technology for immersive human–computer interaction, where sensing systems are essential for enabling natural, adaptive, and multisensory experiences. However, the scientific landscape of sensing techniques in VR remains fragmented across disciplines, lacking a comprehensive and integrative perspective. In this study, a bibliometric and science mapping analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate research trends, structures, and developments in sensing technologies for VR-based human interaction. A dataset of 2259 peer-reviewed articles (2005–2025) retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science was analyzed. The results indicate a steady growth in scientific production (5.37% annual growth rate) and a highly collaborative research environment, structured around a limited core of journals and dominated by leading countries such as China (18.0%) and the United States (17.8%). Conceptual and thematic analyses reveal a transition toward human-centered and interaction-driven approaches, with increasing emphasis on multimodal, wearable, and physiological sensing technologies. At the same time, areas such as haptic and tactile feedback appear comparatively less represented within the analyzed thematic structures. The analyzed bibliometric trends indicate increasing thematic convergence between sensing technologies, materials science, and intelligent systems within VR research, with growing research interest in integrated and multimodal sensing approaches.