Contextual Influences on the Use and Non-Use of Digital Technology While Exercising at the Gym

Abstract

The use of wearable technology will become significantly more prevalent in the coming years, with major companies releasing devices such as the Samsung Gear Fit. With sensors, such as pedometers and heart rate monitors, embedded in these devices it is possible to use them for fitness purposes. However, little is known about how wearable adopters actually use wearable and existing technologies during exercise. In an exploratory situated study of technology use and non-use in the context of the gym, fitness informatics adopters showed varied practices related to distraction, appropriating technology into their routines, and information needs. We discuss this variance in relation to individual differences and the impact of the physical nature of the gym. Although further research might show other influencing factors such as the social context, we make a case for the use of situated studies to uncover tensions that lead to use and non-use of technology that arise in the different unfolding situations of using wearables in everyday life, including at the gym, which is a surprisingly complex context.

Quantified Baby

“…Wearable tracking devices like the FitBit, Jawbone and Apple Watch are increasingly popular tools for tracking aspects of health, such as heart rate and pulse oximetry [55]. However, use and nonuse of such health trackers is based on individual user differences and, critically, the context in which they are embedded [51]. Additionally, people use trackers not only for personal tracking, but also for social and collaborative purposes [14,55].…”

Investigating User Needs for Bio-sensing and Affective Wearables

“…Researchers focused on exploring the effects of sharing such private information with different groups of people [3,7,9,14,16]. Additionally, researchers explored user preferences for using wearables in different contexts [2,11]. While the design space of biometric and affective wearables 1 http://quantifiedself.com/ includes many dimensions, we chose to focus in this part of our research on identifying potential user needs with regard to aspects of utility, connectivity, and feedback of the new biometric and affective wearables.…”

Take a GANDER. Gathering Accessibility Needs by Doing Explorative Research

“…Our gander then concludes by winding through the university campus. This final part of our gander challenges participants by letting them encounter an incline within the environment (13), which will create light physical strain and highlight the issues that exist when physical world priorities impact on the effectiveness of digital UI design considerations (Patel & O'Kane, 2015). We conclude by passing by the iconic Geddes Quadrangle (14) where participants will be encouraged to stop and reflect on their experiences before then finishing in front of the Dalhousie Building (1).…”