Innovative user engagement and playfulness on adoption intentions of technological products: evidence from SEM-based multivariate approach

Using ubiquitous computing devices, also UCD, is a conscious decision made by consumers, success of which depends on how much it involves and engages the user that results in functional, hedonic and social experiences in user’s context and long-term success for organization. User engagement, tested in multifarious concepts, indicates that experiences that are significantly hedonic create an affective bond with the device and deliver high value to the consumer. This study verifies and investigates the dispositional and impacting factors that influence a consumer’s adoption intention for radical or incremental innovation or loyalty to an incumbent ubiquitous computing device through concept of user engagement, self-congruity theory, innovativeness and playfulness. The research was based on a survey questionnaire collected from users of ubiquitous computing devices (UCDs) belonging to an educated urban population from an age group of 18 to 35 years residing in Karachi through convenience and self-selection sampling. In total, 654 complete responses were received coded in SPSS and the model was analysed through AMOS 23.0. Results indicate that three dimensions of user engagement are significant for ubiquitous computing devices (UCDs): focused attention, interaction appeal and perceived usability. The first two are significantly positive towards playfulness creating an association with self-concept leading to innovative consumer’s innovation adoption and others having loyalty with incumbent device. The research theoretically contributes by identification of user engagement dimensions and significance of incumbent loyalty in innovation adoption phenomenon.