The WEAR Scale: Developing a Measure of the Social Acceptability of a Wearable Device

Abstract

<p>The factors affecting the social acceptability of wearable devices are not well understood, yet they have a strong influence on whether a new wearable succeeds or fails. Factors uniquely affecting wearable acceptability as compared to other technology include manners, moral codes, the symbolic communication of dress, habits of dress, fashion, context of use, form, and aesthetics. This paper describes the development of the WEarable Acceptability Range (WEAR Scale), designed to predict acceptance of a particular wearable. First, the construct "social acceptability of a wearable" was defined using literature and an interview study. Second, the WEAR Scale's item pool was composed, and reviewed by experts. Third, the resulting scale was administered to sample respondents along with validation measures. The data will be evaluated for reliability and validity, and the scale's length will be adjusted, culminating in a validated WEAR Scale useful to both industry and academia.</p>