The Impact of Subjective Technology Adaptivity on the Willingness of Persons with Disabilities to Use Emerging Assistive Technologies: A European Perspective

Abstract

The emergence of new digital technologies is accompanied by a significant growth in the diversity and availability of assistive technologies. Advances in artificial intelligence, Big Data analytics for robotics or augmented reality can be utilised as assistive technologies for persons with disabilities in the next years. However, little is known about the willingness of persons with disabilities to use emerging technologies and the determinants of their use intention, such as an individual’s ability and willingness. We do so by utilising the concept of subjective technology adaptivity, i.e. “an individual’s response to technological demands that are associated with improved competence, and with more frequent use of technology” (Kamin & Lang, 2013, p. 16). In addition, empirical studies that closely look at how subjective technology adaptivity influences people’s use intention for future assistive technologies are missing. The paper seeks address this omission by drawing on the findings of mobility survey conducted under the auspices of the European research project TRIPS (TRansport Innovation for disabled People needs Satisfaction, https://trips-project.eu/). Our findings draw on the answers of 545 disabled citizens and seek to answer a fundamental research question: Does adaptivity to technology predict the willingness of persons with disabilities to use emerging assistive technologies? Furthermore, the study aims to assess whether this relationship is explained by gender and age effects.