JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Studies related to smart wearables have increased dramatically during recent years. However, personal safety perspectives of wearable devices have not been adequately addressed in the literature so far. There have been debates regarding the potential health risks, such as radiation, and fashionability of using wearable devices. Regardless of the actual health risks from wearable devices, these controversial debates could affect users’ perceptions toward purchasing and using the technology.

Objective:

This paper addresses the following research question: how do perceptions of technology, risks, and fashionability affect the user’s intention to purchase and use wearable technology?

Methods:

A survey was administered with questions on health risk, privacy risk, fashionability, wearable comfort (all perceived) and behavioral intention to (re)purchase and use wearable device. All questions were adapted from prior research and measured using a seven-point Likert scale. The final sample of 205 responses was analyzed using partial least squares method with Smart-PLS software.

Results:

We find that Perceived Health Risk (p-value = 0.015), Perceived Fashionability (p-value < 0.001), and Wearable Comfort (p-value = 0.007) have a significant impact on a consumer’s intention to purchase wireless earbuds. Privacy Risk did not have a significant impact on intension to purchase wireless earbuds. Purchase Intention had a significant impact on Use Intention (p-value < 0.001).

Conclusions:

As new types of emerging technology get introduced to the market, technology acceptance models should also evolve in order to understand consumers’ perceptions toward these new technologies from an academic and a practical point-of-view.