Hedonic Systems: Integrating Motivation, Usability, and Sociotechnical Contexts in Smart Systems

Abstract

This work examines the factors influencing the adoption and acceptance of hedonic technologies, technologies specifically designed for entertainment, social interaction, and personal gratification. Standard models, such as TAM and UTAUT, have provided useful lenses for understanding technology adoption. However, they are mainly centered on pragmatic factors: perceived usefulness and ease of use. These models present a limited perspective, overlooking the deeper emotional and social motivations that fundamentally drive engagement with hedonic technologies. We present a more nuanced framework for acceptance, building on theories of motivation and empirical evidence from research on social tagging, applications with game elements, and social media. It highlights the importance of intrinsic factors, such as perceived enjoyment and curiosity, as well as social status, cultural legitimacy, and user participation. By highlighting the need for a balanced mix between functional and emotional aspects and acknowledging the significance of organizational and cultural factors, this work offers a more comprehensive perspective on the factors shaping user engagement with digital leisure and social platforms.