Title: How influencing factors of intention to use smart watches changed in pandemic times in Germany - a comparison

Authors: Kristina Hall; Severin Oesterle; Laura Watkowski; Christoph Buck

Addresses: Research Center Finance and Information Management, Branch Business and Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer FIT, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany ' Chair of Business and Information Systems Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany ' Research Center Finance and Information Management, Branch Business and Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer FIT, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95444 Bayreuth, Germany ' Branch Business and Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer FIT, University of Applied Sciences Augsburg, Alter Postweg 101, 86519 Augsburg, Germany; Centre for Future Enterprise, QUT Business School Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Abstract: The use of smart wearables, especially smart watches, has increased significantly in recent years. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, personal self-tracking has never been more relevant. However, it is not yet clear which factors, functional or non-functional, influence the pre-adoption of smart watches and to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their weighting. To address this research gap, we reviewed the relevant literature and subsequently developed a conceptual model based on existing acceptance models and analysed our online empirical data using structural equation modelling. Our findings reveal significant differences over time, mainly driven by non-functional characteristics (i.e., perceived aesthetics, perceived price, perceived enjoyment). In addition, fashion consciousness seems to influence the relationship between perceived haptics and intention to use during pandemic times. Our findings shed light on the importance of contextual behavioural changes on technology use and provide practical and theoretical implications for manufacturers, users, and society.

Keywords: COVID-19; mHealth; intention to use; functional factors; non-functional factors; PLS-SEM; online survey; technology acceptance model; TAM; wearables; smart watches; Germany.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2024.136432

International Journal of Technology Management, 2024 Vol.94 No.3/4, pp.436 - 474

Received: 16 Oct 2021
Received in revised form: 10 Oct 2022
Accepted: 11 Nov 2022
Published online: 01 Feb 2024 *

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