Adoption Of Apps Research Articles

Do the technological anxiety, privacy and physical risks matter in retail customers'‏ ‏adoption of AR‏ ‏apps? An extended UTAUT2 approach

PurposeDue to augmented reality (AR) technology improvements, the retail industry has embraced smart retailing as its primary business model. Therefore, organizations must comprehend the intricacies of AR adoption to persuade clients to adopt this revolutionary technology effectively. Thus, the current study proposes and evaluates a comprehensive model that includes unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2), privacy concerns, physical risks and technological anxiety to predict customers’ intention to use AR apps in the retail industry in the Egyptian context.Design/methodology/approachThe current study examines 398 responses from Egyptian shoppers using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Snowball sampling was employed in the existing study. The participants were selected using a “self-selection” strategy, which is an excellent method for research investigations in which the participants freely participate.FindingsConsumers’ intentions to use AR apps in retail settings are positively impacted by task-technology fit, performance expectation, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and hedonic motivation. Conversely, privacy and physical risks negatively affect customers’ intention to use AR apps in retail. Furthermore, technological anxiety serves as a moderator factor in these connections.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, the current study is considered the first to test the role of UTAUT2, privacy and physical risks on users' behavioral intentions toward adopting AR apps in retail. It also examines technological anxiety as a moderator in the retail setting.

Exploring food delivery app adoption: Corporate social responsibility and perceived product risk's influence

Exploring food delivery app adoption: Corporate social responsibility and perceived product risk's influence

The Role of Technophilia and User Goals in the Intention to Use a Mobility Management Travel App

The ubiquitous use of mobile devices along with the amount of traffic, transportation services, and travel pattern data available has led to the emergence and deployment of smartphone applications for providing information about personal travel management. Several of these travel apps are aimed at voluntary travel behavior change (VTBC) to support and increase sustainable mobility, and have led to the development of research to investigate their influence on travel behavior. Here, the aim is to study the role of technophilia and goal-framing theory in the intention to adopt and situationally use a prospective VTBC travel app. A Structural Equation Model is developed with the aim of empirically testing a sample of 971 respondents collected in two suburban corridors in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The results support that goal-framing theory is important for explaining the adoption of VTBC travel apps. Gain and normative motives are more relevant than hedonic motives, pointing to the importance of their tangible benefits. Frequent car users may benefit from VTBC travel apps in terms of encouraging behavioral changes, supporting sustainable mobility management solutions. The results also outline the importance of technophilia and the current use of travel apps in influencing the intention to use VTBC apps.

Exploring female fitness app users' motivations and perceptions: A qualitative study.

Women make up nearly 60% of fitness App users and play an important role in the operation and development of these Apps. Despite the widespread adoption of fitness Apps in recent years due to their many physical and mental benefits, the use of Apps tends to be short-term, and user engagement is relatively low. Little is known about the factors that motivate female users to consistently use fitness Apps. This study aimed to study attributes of fitness Apps that are most likely to influence female users during their use of Apps. The means-ends chain theory and the soft-laddering interview technique were used to analyze the attributes that influenced females' perceptions of fitness apps, focusing on the features most likely to provide them with benefits and value. The results of the study indicated that instructiveness, interaction, personalization, ease of use, and convenience were the most important attributes valued by female fitness App users; peer support, entertainment, and exercise adherence were the most important consequences; and health, self-fulfillment, enjoyment of life and sense of achievement were the most important values. The findings provide researchers and management of fitness Apps and women's sports with valuable insights from the means-ends chain theory, as well as suggestions for applying App design and promotion.

1.B. Round table: Artificial Intelligence in Mobile Health Apps: Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Challenges

Abstract Globally, governments and public health authorities are integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in mobile apps to improve public health. For example, during the COVID-19 outbreak, AI-driven chatbots were deployed to provide immediate health information and advice. AI-based mobile apps are also used to support mental health or for preventive healthcare, such as personalized dietary recommendations. Moreover, the use of generative AI for public health purposes is rapidly increasing. In 2024, the WHO launched S.A.R.A.H - a generative AI chatbot designed to provide information on major health topics such as healthy lifestyles and mental health. By integrating AI, public institutions could potentially achieve better health outcomes, improve efficiency, and enhance access to healthcare. However, the rapid adoption of AI public health apps also raises significant ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. The large amounts of sensitive personal data collected and processed by such apps may create issues for privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity. At the same time, the tendency of AI to exhibit biases may deepen existing health inequities. The new EU ‘digital’ legal framework does not directly address these challenges. This workshop aims to convene leading experts working on AI in health to address these issues. We bring together scholars from different disciplines (health law, health policy, bioethics, biosciences). The workshop objectives are twofold: (1) to critically assess the current landscape of AI in public health apps from a legal, ethical, and regulatory point of view, and (2) to lay the groundwork for policy recommendations on how to ensure the deployment of AI apps for public health in compliance with ethical principles and fundamental rights. First, the panel explores the differences in the data protection regulation of AI public health apps in the EU and the US (speaker: James Hazel). Second, it discusses how these apps are regulated under the new EU Artificial Intelligence Act (speaker: Hannah van Kolfschooten). Third, it investigates the consequences of the European Health Data Space regulation on how health data can be processed through public health apps (speaker: Mahsa Shabani). Finally, as the cross-border use of apps complicates regulatory efforts, it discusses the need for international cooperation in establishing and enforcing guidelines (speaker: Vasiliki Rahimzadeh). The workshop will be conducted as a round table discussion with 4 short presentations of 5 minutes each. Speakers first present a key challenge posed by AI in mobile health apps, and then suggest a potential regulatory solution. This will be followed by a dialogue between panelists and the audience to share best practices on how to regulate AI in mobile public health apps from a legal, ethical, and regulatory perspective. The input will be used to develop a submission for the Call for papers of BMC Bioinformatics. Key messages • As public institutions are increasingly integrating AI technologies into their mobile public health solutions, it is crucial to evaluate the ethical, legal, and regulatory implications. • In light of current gaps in the EU legal framework, we convene scholars from different disciplines and legal systems to design guidelines on the ethical use of AI mobile apps for public health. Speakers/Panelists James Hazel University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Mahsa Shabani University of Amsterdam, Ghent University, Amsterdam, Netherlands Hannah van Kolfschooten University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Vasiliki Rahimzadeh Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA Pramiti Parwani University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Adoption of smart energy apps and household energy practices: empirical insights from Norway

ABSTRACT This study examines the adoption and usage patterns of household energy apps among a sample of Norwegian households to explore their potential in visualising and controlling home energy consumption and influencing sustainable energy practices. Through a questionnaire survey of 150 respondents using energy apps, this study gathers empirical insights into adoption motivations, user perceptions and factors associated with self-reported changes in household energy practices. Findings indicate that app-related factors, such as perceived app insights applicability, ease of use, and appealing user interface, are more positively associated with self-reported changes in daily energy habits than demographic factors. This research underscores the importance of prioritising user experience and data security in app development to foster sustainable energy practices. It also offers practical recommendations for targeted engagement strategies and policy interventions to promote the wider adoption of smart energy apps and maximise their potential to facilitate household energy transitions.

Factors infuencing type 2 diabetes mellitus patients’ readiness, acceptance and barriers towards mobile apps adoption for medication adherence

Factors infuencing type 2 diabetes mellitus patients’ readiness, acceptance and barriers towards mobile apps adoption for medication adherence

The Role of UTAUT2 in Understanding Technology Adoption: A Study of the Merdeka Mengajar Platform Among Indonesian Teachers

This research investigates the adoption of the Merdeka Mengajar application using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework. The study aims to identify the factors influencing teachers' behavioral intentions and usage behavior regarding this educational technology platform. A total of 383 teachers from various levels in Malang were sampled from a broader population of 8,936. Statistical analysis uses SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) analysis techniques. The findings suggest that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and price value significantly influence behavioral intention. However, facilitating conditions and habit do not show a direct significant impact on use behavior. These results indicate that while technological support such as infrastructure and internet access is necessary, it alone may not be enough to motivate consistent usage without internal factors like perceived usefulness or enjoyment of the app. Moreover, the habitual use of new technology may require additional support and time before it can significantly affect behavior. This study contributes valuable insights into the adoption of educational technologies, especially in the Indonesian context, where digital learning platforms are increasingly being integrated into teaching practices. Future research may explore how ongoing support and user experience improvements can further enhance the app's adoption.

Uncovering the impact on environmental challenges through the predictors of m-tourism apps adoption: SEM-NCA approaches

This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of m-tourism apps in Bangladesh and their impact on being free from environmental challenges. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Necessity Condition Analysis (NCA), the research explores how various predictors affect the Intention to Adopt Tourism Apps (IATA) and, subsequently, the outcome of being free from environmental challenges (FEC). SEM results reveal that Perceived Usefulness (PU), Cultural Exchange of Technology (CET), Social Amusement and Entertainment (SAE), and Tourists' Lifestyles (TL) significantly enhance IATA, with IATA having a strong positive impact on FEC. Conversely, Attitudes Towards Technology (ATT) and Government Supportive Roles (GSR) show limited influence on adoption. NCA identifies CET, IATA, SAE, and TL as critical predictors with medium to large effect sizes, particularly at higher thresholds, indicating their role as major bottlenecks. Government Supportive Roles and Tourist Technology Readiness are less influential. These findings offer valuable insights for developers and policymakers to focus on enhancing the perceived value, cultural exchange, and lifestyle compatibility of m-tourism apps to improve adoption rates and effectively address environmental challenges.

Usability evaluation and reporting for mobile health apps targeting patients with skin diseases: a systematic review.

Usability is an important method for evaluating mobile health apps from a user perspective. Yet, many publicly available apps lack adequate attention to their design, development, and evaluation. To assess usability evaluation and reporting for mobile health apps targeting patients with skin diseases. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022347184). A search strategy combined terms for usability evaluation, user experience, skin disease and mobile health apps (search date from 2012 to 2023). Six databases (Embase, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus) were searched, identifying 18052 results. Nine studies (comprising 9 apps) were included in the final analysis. Skin conditions/issues targeted included skin cancer (n=3), sun protection (n=3), and one study identified for each of the following: chronic pruritus/acne/psoriasis/rosacea/laser treatments/actinic damage/monitoring benign moles/alopecia/inflammatory rash/cutaneous leishmaniasis/spina bifida. All studies assessed app usability and feasibility, with the majority concluding that the apps were deemed useful and easy to use. Qualitative methods, such as usability questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, were predominantly employed. Common emerging themes included ease of use and navigation, comprehensibility, security/privacy concerns, data sharing issues, customizability, costs, and the ability to track progress or self-monitor. While smartphone applications for skin disorders show promising usability across diverse diseases, the limited literature compared to the rapid app development highlights the need for meticulous user-centered design and rigorous evaluation. The study emphasises the importance of evaluating and reporting usability findings to optimize the long-term adoption of mobile health apps, particularly those targeting skin diseases.

Analysis of Customer’s Continuous Use of Maritime Transportation Mobile Ticketing Application

With the rise of smartphones and internet connectivity, travellers have been increasingly seeking quicker and smoother purchasing processes. To address this behaviour, a passenger shipping company, launched their mobile ticketing app in 2018. However, despite closing offline ticketing booths in late 2023, the app adoption remains low. This research investigates factors influencing user adoption and usage of the app, employing a modified UTAUT model. A mixed-method approach utilizes questionnaires, data analysis using SPSS and PLS-SEM, and cluster analysis to identify user segments and pain points. The research analysis finds that only performance expectancy, social influence, voluntariness of use, system quality, and system quality with a moderating variable frequency of app use impact the user’s intention to continue using the app. These results are further clustered into four categories based on the DOI theory. These findings can be used by the company and other maritime transportation companies seeking to leverage mobile technology for improved customer experience and ticketing efficiency.

The Moderating Effect of App Trustworthiness and User Attitudes on Intention to Use Adopt Mobile Applications Among Employees in The Oil and Gas Industry

In today’s technologically advanced world, the adoption of mobile applications has become a transformative force across various industries, significantly impacting the way businesses operate and manage their processes. One area where mobile applications are making a remarkable impact is in the realm of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). The integration of mobile applications in OHS practices has ushered in a new era of efficiency, accessibility, and data-driven decision-making, elevating workplace safety standards to unprecedented heights. Occupational health and safety are paramount concerns for organizations as they strive to create safe and healthy work environments for their employees. Historically, OHS management relied on manual and paper-based processes, which could be time-consuming, error-prone, and challenging to track comprehensively. However, with the advent of mobile technology, organizations now have the opportunity to streamline their OHS protocols, enhance communication, and proactively manage workplace risks, all through the convenience of mobile applications. This research aims to analyze the effects between perceived ease of use and the attitude towards the use of the mobile application. Perceived usefulness of applications on Attitude towards the use of the app, attitude towards the use of the app on intention to use the application. The population of this research is the employees from the oil and gas industry in Malaysia. The theory of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was applied. Perceived danger, perceived utility, perceived ease of use, and perceived intention to use were the antecedents for mobile apps. Employees’ intentions to use mobile applications were shown to be significantly influenced by their satisfaction with the information system and their inventiveness. In this study, devices were categorized as large or small according to their screen size, while respondents were categorized as young (<30 years old) or old (>30 years old) according to their age. A data collection of 545 responses to an online survey with 32 questions was obtained for analysis. The survey was distributed via email to respondents using a Survey among employees. The factors impacting the intention to use mobile applications were investigated using structural equation modeling. We looked at the moderating impact of the app’s trustworthiness on users’ intentions to use/adopt it. The variables’ responses for perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards the use of the App, trust (integrity) of the App, and intention to use/adopt the application varied significantly between the subgroups, according to the results. The study also showed the existence of moderating effects on the intention to use/adopt an app related to the trust integrity of the app. This paper discusses the survey, the findings, and the ramifications of the observations. This research contributes to the current literature by presenting empirical evidence on the importance of trustworthiness and user attitudes in mobile app adoption in the oil and gas industry. It also discusses the broader implications for improving workplace safety through the strategic use of mobile devices in OHS practices.

Investigating the adoption of smart local government services: the impact of service quality, trust, and social influence

PurposeThis study aims to examine the factors that influence the adoption of public services through the latest smart apps designed to provide maximum services within urban local government.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a thorough literature review, expert advice on public service delivery and four complementary theories. An empirical survey used a structured questionnaire to collect primary data from citizens in Indian local governments. The data was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) and SmartPLS version 4 to assess the measurement and structural models.FindingsThe study confirmed that service quality, trust, effort expectancy and social influence are key factors for adopting smart app services. Trust and intention are mediators, while performance expectations do not impact the decision to use smart app services.Research limitations/implicationsThe study includes a moderate sample size and a focus on a single developing country, which restricts its cross-cultural applicability. This research investigated the factors influencing individual adoption and use of local government services delivered through smart apps.Practical implicationsThe study has significant implications for policymakers, researchers and implementers. It provides insights for developing strategies to increase the use of smart services, thereby enhancing local governance's efficiency, transparency and accountability.Originality/valueThis study enhances existing knowledge by adding service quality, trust and adoption to the model, which helps examine the factors affecting adoption. With limited research on local smart service app adoption, this study provides valuable insights.

Extend UTAUT2 Model to Analyze User Behavior of China Construction Bank Mobile App

The outbreak of COVID-19 has been accelerating the digital transformation of financial institutions all over the world. Mobile banking APPs become an important channel to provide financial services in the Internet and Big Data era. Factors that restrict its development have attracted the close attention of scholars and practitioners around the world. Different from a general APP software, mobile banking APPs naturally have some financial attributes which set high requirements for personal privacy protection and other security issues. For this reason, this paper extends the original UTAUT2 model by incorporating a new constructor: perceived risks. The study carefully selects China Construction Bank’s mobile banking app (short as “the CCB APP”), as she is the biggest bank in China and has good novelty and representativeness in financial technology. This paper constructs an extended UTAUT2-based model using questionnaires and structural equation modeling the user behavior of CCB APP and tests the influencing factors of the proposed model through empirical analysis. Similar to other studies using the UTAUT2 model, the findings of this paper indicate that performance expectations, effort expectations, social influence, facilitators, and habits, all have a positive impact on CCB APP users’ intentions. Their intention to use was a mediating variable of user behavior, while facilitators directly influenced CCB users’ behavior. However, the study finds that perceived risk negatively affects the CCB users’ intention while hedonic motivation and price value do not significantly affect users’ decision-making process. Based on these findings, the misdirection should to be avoided in regard to financial APP development by financial institutions is discussed and the future research direction concerning mobile banking app adoption is illustrated.

The Impact of Data Privacy on Users' Smartphone App Adoption Decisions

Rich user information is gained through user tracking and power mobile smartphone applications. Apps thereby become aware of the user and their context, enabling intelligent and adaptive applications. However, such data poses severe privacy risks. Although users are only partially aware of them, awareness increases with the proliferation of privacy-enhancing technologies. How privacy literacy and raising privacy concerns affect app adoption is unclear; however, we hypothesize that it leads to a lower adoption rate of data-heavy smartphone apps, as non-usage often is the user's only option to protect themselves. We conducted a survey (N=100) to investigate the relationship between privacy-relevant app- and publisher characteristics with the users' intention to install and use it. We found that users are especially critical of contentful data types and apps with rights to perform actions on their behalf. On the other hand, the expectation of a productive benefit induced by the app can increase the app-adoption intention. Our findings show which aspects designers of privacy-enhancing technologies should focus on to meet the demand for more user-centered privacy.

Adoption of mobile applications (apps) for information management in small agribusiness enterprises – an exploratory mixed-methods study of Farmer Producer Companies in India

Purpose Small farmers in India are collectivized and legalized as Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to progress in agri-food value chains as small agribusiness enterprises. FPCs are dependent on timely information for their sustainability and profitability. Mobile apps are a cost-effective form of information and communication technology. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the major determinants of mobile apps adoption by FPCs. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative data are collected by administering a semi-structured questionnaire and conducting in-depth interviews with board members of 115 FPCs, with a total membership of 30,405 farmers operating in 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The logit model is used for quantitative analysis, while dialog mapping is used for qualitative analysis, based on an integrated technology acceptance model and technology organization environment framework. Findings Logistic regression results evidence that amongst FPC characteristics, while company size and age are significantly impacting apps adoption, there is no significant association between board size, education level, multiple commodities business or export intention of companies on apps adoption. Digital literacy and technical hands-on training for FPC board members are quintessential to facilitate mobile apps adoption. Practical implications The findings are pertinent to policymakers to earmark funds for technical handholding and digital upskilling of FPCs. The need for developing comprehensive, location-centric, farmer-friendly apps by agritech companies is evidenced. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is a pioneering work in the domain of mobile apps adoption from a farmers’ agribusiness enterprise perspective in an emerging market economy using a mixed-methods approach.

Smarter but more unequal transport? How socioeconomic and digital inequalities hinder adoption of mobility apps in the Global South

All over the world, cities are becoming “smarter.” The improved use of data generated by the transport system (e.g. smart cards data), combined with GPS trackers and citizens’ mobile data enabled the development of a new generation of smarter mobile apps (e.g., Waze) and several local real-time public transport services and trip planners. These technologies have the potential to reduce transport inequalities via two mechanisms. First, governments can develop more efficient and evidence-based public transport plans. Second, citizens have access to better, real-time information about public transport for trip planning and, thus, can make better—i.e., more efficient or cheaper—decisions regarding their everyday mobility. To assess whether citizens’ appropriation of smart mobility—as with their appropriation of any other digital service—depends strongly on having a certain set of socioeconomic and digital attributes, we analyzed both a mobility survey and a digital inequalities survey based on representative samples of adult Uruguayans living in the capital Montevideo. We find that while the use of mobility apps increased in the second half of the 2010s, the adoption of these tools was stratified by traditional digital inequalities, such as type of internet access and digital literacy, and by variables that predict inequalities in both digital and transport fields, such as age, gender and education. As a result, mobility continues to be stratified in favor of those who are more knowledgeable (i.e., tech-savvy) and have greater access to digital technology. Thus, “smart mobility” has failed to ameliorate—and may even exacerbate—transport inequality. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Mathematical model of dating apps’ influence on sexually transmitted diseases spread

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a group of pathogens infecting new hosts through sexual interactions. Due to its social and economic burden, multiple models have been proposed to study the spreading of pathogens. In parallel, in the ever-evolving landscape of digital social interactions, the pervasive utilization of dating apps has become a prominent facet of modern society. Despite the surge in popularity and the profound impact on relationship formation, a crucial gap in the literature persists regarding the potential ramifications of dating apps usage on the dynamics of STDs. In this paper, we address this gap by presenting a novel mathematical framework - an extended Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible (SIS) epidemiological model to elucidate the intricate interplay between dating apps engagement and the propagation of STDs. Namely, as dating apps are designed to make users revisit them and have mainly casual sexual interactions with other users, they increase the number of causal partners, which increases the overall spread of STDS. Using extensive simulation, based on real-world data, explore the effect of dating apps adoption and control on the STD spread. We show that an increased adoption of dating apps can result in an STD outbreak if not handled appropriately.

Altruistic and egoistic motivations to engage with contact-tracing apps: Lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic

During the Covid-19 pandemic, contact-tracing apps have offered effective help to bend the contagion curve. Thus, it is of critical importance to understand the factors that influence contact-tracing apps’ adoption among citizens. In particular, the successful adoption and usage of contact-tracing apps strongly relies on individual motives. Therefore, this study draws on the theory of altruistic and egoistic motivation for prosocial behaviours to analyse the underlying motives through which citizens engage in voluntary behaviours aimed at using and promoting the use of contact-tracing apps. The study also examines the mediating role of users’ trust in the app. Data from 221 users of Ireland’s Covid Tracker app was analysed. Structural equation modelling with PLS was used to test the research model. Findings show differences between egoistic and altruistic motivation in promoting app use and sharing. Egoistic motivation significantly promotes voluntary behaviours among citizens and users’ trust in the app mediates this influence. Yet, contrary to predictions, in the context of the pandemic, altruistic motivation does not play a significant role in engaging citizens in these voluntary behaviours, either directly or indirectly. The findings of this study are important for policy makers and may inform future policy decisions regarding the implementation of contact-tracing apps in the case of new pandemics or for other contexts requiring cooperative daily check-in.

Examining the dynamics of mobile banking app. Adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A digital shift in the crisis

Mobile banking applications (apps) have become crucial in maintaining financial services accessibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study leverages the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to examine Malaysian millennials' behavioral intentions toward mobile banking app adoption, aiming to aid banks in developing targeted strategies to expand their user base. Data collection was conducted from October 2020 to February 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was administered to 270 respondents using convenience and snowball sampling methods. The Sequential Least Square method was used for the analysis. Our findings reveal that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, trust, and personal innovativeness significantly influence mobile banking app adoption intentions, whereas social influence and facilitating conditions do not. Demographic factors also modulate these relationships to varying degrees. These insights contribute to theoretical discussions on technology adoption and offer practical guidance for banks looking to enhance their digital service offerings in a post-pandemic landscape. This study underscores the shifts in consumer behavior triggered by the pandemic and highlights the ongoing potential for digital banking growth in Malaysia.