The use of wearable technologies and body awareness: A body–tool relationship perspective

Abstract

Wearable technologies—innovative and multi-functional media technologies that can be attached to our body—have received a great deal of attention by the digital media industry. The wearability of technology brings new affordances that may significantly change the way humans interact with technological objects. However, little is known about how such emerging technologies can shape our perceptions of the body and the interactions associated with technology use. Focusing on users’ experience of wearable technologies, this study explores the influence of wearable technologies on individuals’ perceptions of their body–tool relationship and body awareness. A series of in-depth interviews was conducted to investigate how users’ interactions with wearable technologies affect their perceptions. Our findings indicate that perceptual properties (materials, weight, battery life, and vibration) influence users’ body-tool relationship, whereas motor activity properties (monitoring, tracking, and real-time feedback) influence users’ body awareness.