Ecosystem adoption of practices over time (EAPT): Toward an alternative view of contemporary technology adoption

Studies examining technology adoption often investigate the adoption of a particular technological artifact by a specific type of end-user at one point in time. We argue that contemporary technologies are components of an improved practice (object) that is adopted, that these practices materialize through interactions among several end-users in an ecosystem (subject), and that they change over time (have temporality). Hence, contemporary technology adoption may be considered “ecosystem adoption of practices over time” (EAPT). We describe how traditional adoption theories treat the object, subject, and temporality of adoption and use practice theory to propose an alternative, EAPT view. Assistive technology and ambient assistive living adoption are used as illustrative examples. We discuss the boundary conditions for applying the EAPT view and elaborate on the implications of taking this view for the research designs of contemporary technology adoption studies. Finally, theoretical, managerial, and policy implications are discussed.