[A SSISTIVE ] T ECHNOLOGY A DOPTION AND A BANDONMENT Katherine Deibel Computer Science and Engineering University of Washington, Seattle

October 2, 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 2

O UTLINE Technology Adoption Overview Case Study from Peru Assistive Technology Adoption October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 3

Everett Rogers, Sociologist General model of how new ideas and technology spread Applied to multiple fields Has adapted to changes in communication technologies October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World Number of adoptions Cumulative adoptions 4 D IFFUSION OF I NNOVATIONS

Communication drives diffusion S-curves Early adopters Change agents October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 5 D IFFUSION OF I NNOVATIONS Cumulative adoptions

A DOPTION P ROCESS October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World Awareness of innovation Interest, motivation, and learning Decision Reject Adopt 6

October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World A DOPTION P ROCESS Implementation, integration, and evaluation Confirmation and finalization Full Adoption / Integration Adaptation / Reinvention Abandonment / Discontinuance 7

Promote boiling of water in lowland Peruvian village Only 11 out of 200 housewives adopted boiling Classic case of diffusion failure October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 8 C ASE S TUDY: L OS M OLINOS Wellin, 1955

Ignored local tradition / culture Overly focused on early adopters Failure to identify and influence change agents Innovation-oriented instead of client-oriented October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 9 C ASE S TUDY: L OS M OLINOS Wellin, 1955

October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World AT A DOPTION Survey studies of adoption and abandonment Longitudinal studies of AT usage Models of AT adoption AT design recommendations Common findings throughout A DDITIONAL S TUDIES : 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) 10

Unawareness of what is available Decision of doctors, experts, or insurance company Decision of caretakers October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 11 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION Involvement in selection process

October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 12 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION 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 October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 13 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION Training

Important tasks and activities Multiple locales and contexts Relative advantage October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 14 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION Integration

Looks “institutional” or “handicapped” Colors Personal style October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 15 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION Aesthetics and Cosmesis

October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World Social perceptions of disability Past experiences of ridicule, shame, or trauma Denial or avoidance 16 F ACTORS IN AT A DOPTION Stigma and Hiding

Blind due to premature birth Actively disavowed his blindness Mobility training in his early 30s Guide dog in his mid 30s October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 17 S TIGMA C ASE S TUDY 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. October 2, Technology and Disability in the Developing World 18 C ONCLUDING T HOUGHTS Contact Information: Kate Deibel