Predicting adoption of the assistive technology open platform: extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology

Abstract

Purpose: The Assistive Technology (AT) Open Platform supports people with disabilities, older people, and developers in co-creating new assistive products outside the business realm. To address dissatisfaction with and non-adoption of commercial assistive products, the National Rehabilitation Centre in South Korea created an AT Open Platform as an open-source AT sharing platform to research and develop appropriate assistive technology suitable for users’ needs. The emerging concept of AT Open Platform is new for both assistive product users and developers in South Korea. The Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) was utilised to understand the factors influencing the adoption of the AT Open Platform and to gain further insights on its design and future use. Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted with six potential AT Open Platform users to develop a questionnaire for predicting behavioural intention. Subsequently, we surveyed 175 potential users to validate the UTAUT2. Results: The results revealed that behavioural intention was significantly predicted by social influence, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation. Conclusions: The AT Open Platform should focus on both online and offline platforms to educate and facilitate the co-creation of ATs for assistive product users and makers. This study, which targeted assistive product users and developers, has significant implications for policymakers and future research in using and adopting the AT Open Platform as it reflects the actual voices of the platform’s stakeholders.