Acceptance depends on the role

In a survey of 5,250 workers in eleven European countries, most were willing to accept support systems when they act as assistants, but only a minority accepted them as colleagues and practically none as supervisors. The strongest factor explaining that acceptance was prior use of those systems, followed by general internet use. Men and those reporting higher household income showed greater willingness, while age and education had little effect and prior knowledge made no difference once actual use was taken into account.

Conclusions

• Acceptance of support technologies at work depends mainly on the role they are assigned, and is higher for assistant functions and lower for peer or supervisory roles.
• Direct experience with those technologies is the most powerful predictor of acceptance, ahead of abstract familiarity or theoretical knowledge.
• Sociodemographic factors such as being male and having a higher household income are associated with a greater willingness to use these tools.
• Age and education level have little influence, and prior knowledge does not increase acceptance once there is experience of use.