Effect of consumers' perceived extension on adopting wearable healthcare device: Dimensional relativity at age

This study aims to examine the consumers' adoption behavior of wearable healthcare devices in terms of their perceived extension. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the current study collected data from 302 participants through stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships. Building on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study demonstrates how three dimensions of perceived extension (i.e., body, self, and cognitive extension) significantly affect perceived usefulness and ease of use. The results reveal that: (1) all three extension dimensions positively influence adoption factors, with self-extension showing the strongest overall impact; (2) age significantly moderates these relationships. This research contributes to TAM literature by incorporating embodiment theory, and provides practical insights for age-specific device design and marketing strategies. Specifically, manufacturers should emphasize body extension features (e.g., ergonomic design) for younger users, while highlighting cognitive benefits (e.g., data analytics) for older adopters.