The Consumer Acceptance of biofeedback technology in sports (graduation)
For my graduation project, I explored how flexible product design influences the acceptance of wearable biofeedback technology in sports. Using the Technology Acceptance Model, I found that flexible designs significantly enhance consumer acceptance by improving the product’s aesthetic and social value. This study validates the hypothesis that flexible products are the future of user-centric design.
Background
This graduation project is part of the EU-funded Light.Touch.Matters (LTM) research initiative, a consortium of design practitioners, researchers, and material scientists. The project’s goal is to explore how new smart materials can revolutionize product interface design and to develop a method for design-driven materials innovation.
The project
The aim of my project was to investigate how flexibility in product design influences the acceptance of wearable biofeedback technology in sports. This study tested the assumption that flexible products are more intuitive and attractive to use. By applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), I evaluated consumer behavior toward three product designs—one with a traditional flat screen, one with a curved screen, and one with a flexible screen. The goal was to understand how product flexibility affects consumer acceptance and to validate the LTM project’s core premise about flexible materials.
Main research questions
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What are the main factors in the technology acceptance model of consumers?
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How does making products flexible influence the consumer acceptance of biofeedback products?
Research method
Using a questionnaire, I surveyed three groups of users who interacted with different product designs (flat screen, curved screen, and flexible screen). The design’s functionality remained constant, while flexibility was the variable. The study focused on how aesthetic value, symbolic value, and social value affect consumer acceptance, using the Technology Acceptance Model to quantify the results.
Results
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Technology Acceptance Factors: Symbolic and aesthetic values were the most influential factors in consumer acceptance. These aspects impacted users’ intentions, relative advantage, and compatibility with the product.
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Impact of Flexibility: Results showed that flexible products were more positively received, particularly in terms of their aesthetic and social values. The flexible design improved user compatibility and engagement, supporting the idea that flexibility increases product desirability.
Conclusion
Making products flexible does indeed increase the acceptance of biofeedback technology in sports. The research confirmed that flexibility enhances both the aesthetic and social value of products, positively influencing consumer decisions. This study validates the LTM project’s assumptions about flexible materials, showing that they offer significant potential for future product development.
