What Drives IoT-Based Smart Pet Appliances Usage Intention? The Perspective of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model

Abstract

The advancement of IOT (Internet of Things) has facilitated the development of smart pet appliances, and the market for these products has growing rapidly, this study seeks to identify key factors for pet owner adoption of “smart” pet appliances. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) a wellestablished model in the field of IOT research is used as the main framework, integrating brand trust, perceived value and perceived enjoyment as the basis for hypothesis formulation and testing based on data collected through questionnaires distributed through online social platforms. Reliability analysis, validity analysis and structural equation model analysis were carried out through confirmatory factor analysis to test the variables and research hypotheses. Results for the UTAUT indicate that effort expectancy has a direct impact on performance expectancy, while performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating condition all have a positive impact on intention. While social influence does not directly or significantly affect use intention, it can indirectly affect intention through perceived value and perceived enjoyment. Brand trust does not have a significant impact on use intention, but can indirectly affect use intention through perceived value. This study further compares user age and number of smart pet home appliances owned to better understand the impact of demographic factors. Findings indicate that, for users under the age of 30, effort expectancy has no significant impact on use intention, while brand trust has no significant impact on perceived value among users over 30. Among the research results based on age as a basis, the impact of hardships in the ethnic group in the age of 30 is not significant, nor do facilitating conditions or perceived value have significant impact on use intention. For users with one smart pet device at home, neither favorable conditions not perceived value have significant impact on use intention, while for users with two smart pet devices, perceived enjoyment does not significantly impact use intention. These finding have potential reference value for future related research in the IOT or smart pet home appliance research field.