[A SSISTIVE ] T ECHNOLOGY A DOPTION AND A BANDONMENT

[ASSISTIVE] TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AND ABANDONMENT

Katherine Deibel

Computer Science and Engineering

University of Washington, Seattle

October 2, 2009 -- Technology and Disability in the Developing World

AT only helps when it is used

8-75% of AT abandoned after purchase (avg. rate is 35%)

Waste of time, funds, and resources for all involved

Learned helplessness and pessimism

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OUTLINE

Technology Adoption Overview Case Study from Peru Assistive Technology Adoption

October 2, 2009 -- Technology and Disability in the Developing World3

Everett Rogers, Sociologist

General model of how new ideas and technology spread

Applied to multiple fields

Has adapted to changes in communication technologies


Number of adoptions

Cumulative adoptions

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DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS

Communication drives diffusion

S-curves

Early adopters

Change agents


DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS

Cumulative adoptions

ADOPTION

PROCESS


Awareness of innovation

Interest, motivation,

and learning

Decision

Reject

Adopt

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ADOPTION PROCESS

Implementation, integration, and

evaluation

Confirmation and finalization

Full Adoption / Integration

Adaptation / Reinvention

Abandonment / Discontinuance

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Promote boiling of water in lowland Peruvian village

Only 11 out of 200 housewives adopted boiling

Classic case of diffusion failure


CASE STUDY: LOS MOLINOS

Wellin, 1955

Ignored local tradition / culture

Overly focused on early adopters

Failure to identify and influence change agents

Innovation-oriented instead of client-oriented


CASE STUDY: LOS MOLINOS

Wellin, 1955


AT ADOPTION Survey studies of adoption and

abandonment

Longitudinal studies of AT usage

Models of AT adoption

AT design recommendations

Common findings throughout

ADDITIONAL STUDIES:

Phillips and Zhao (1993); Elkind et al. (1996); Wehmeyer (1995, 1998); Martin and McCormack (1999); Riemer-Reiss and Wacker (2000); Koester (2003); Dawe (2006); Shinohara and Tenenberg (2007); Scherer (2005)

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Unawareness of what is available

Decision of doctors, experts, or insurance company

Decision of caretakers


FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Involvement in selection process


FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Cost and Effort Initial purchase

Physical and cognitive effort of usage

Maintenance / replacement costs

Utility : Cost balance

Serious time and effort

Presence of professional support

Need for evidence of gains and improvement


FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Training

Important tasks and activities

Multiple locales and contexts

Relative advantage


FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Integration

Looks “institutional” or “handicapped”

Colors

Personal style


FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Aesthetics and Cosmesis


Social perceptions of disability

Past experiences of ridicule, shame, or trauma

Denial or avoidance

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FACTORS IN AT ADOPTION Stigma and Hiding

Blind due to premature birth

Actively disavowed his blindness

Mobility training in his early 30s

Guide dog in his mid 30s


STIGMA CASE STUDY Stephen Kuusisto

Adoption is critical for long-term change

Keep adoption in mind

Growing body of research to consult

More: technology acceptance, diffusion methodologies, etc.


CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Contact Information:Kate Deibel <[email protected]>

[A SSISTIVE ] T ECHNOLOGY A DOPTION AND A BANDONMENT

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