Adoption of smart health wearables: An empirical analysis in Chile and the U.S

Over the last few years a new movement called “Quantified Self” (QS) has emerged. QS-tracking (or lifelogging) is the regular collection of any self-measured data, such as everyday biological, behavioral, or environmental information (Lupton, 2016). Despite the vast economic potential, several research gaps can be identified. First, academic research in the area of wearable technology acceptance is still relatively scarce. To date, only a few empirical studies exist that explain a consumer’s intention to adopt wearable technologies, such as smart glasses, smart clothing, smartwatches, or fitness trackers. Second, most studies in the broader context of health information technology (HIT) are single-country studies, mainly conducted in developed markets. Empirical research has neglected studying the drivers of technology adoption in less-developed regions such as Latin America. The objective of this study is to address the current research limitations noted in consumer behavior and technology acceptance research. Based on a theoretical model, we investigate health versus technology factors among users and nonusers in a developed country, the United States, versus Chile as a representative Latin American developing country. Drawing on prior technology acceptance research, the authors conduct two empirical studies in the U.S. and Chile to examine health versus technology factors among users and nonusers of fitness trackers