Wearable technologies, brand community and the growth of a transhumanist vision

被引:14
作者
Akdevelioglu, Duygu [1 ]
Hansen, Sean [1 ]
Venkatesh, Alladi [2 ]
机构
[1] Rochester Inst Technol, Saunders Coll Business, 105 Lomb Mem Dr, Rochester, NY 14623 USA
[2] Univ Calif Irvine, Paul Merage Sch Business, Irvine, CA USA
关键词
Quantified self; online brand communities; accidental transhumanism; consumer culture; socio-technical systems; QUANTIFIED SELF; CONSUMER; CONSUMPTION; INTERNET; THINGS; EXPERIENCE; ENGAGEMENT; NETNOGRAPHY; EMPOWERMENT; MATERIALITY;
D O I
10.1080/0267257X.2021.2001559
中图分类号
F [经济];
学科分类号
02 ;
摘要
By enabling users to digitally monitor their health and behaviour, wearable technologies foster the perspective of the quantified self, a cultural phenomenon emphasising personal improvement through self-tracking. This vision, in turn, provides a basis for new forms of social engagement. In this netnographic study, we explore a brand community for users of the Fitbit wearable device. Our analysis reveals two structural dynamics - material agency and quantitative anchoring - which create a foundation for what we label 'accidental transhumanism', a transitional movement towards a transhumanist vision based on self-quantification, self-extension, and integration with technology. We further highlight the social engagement mechanisms, including motivating empowerment, friendly rivalry, and trusting engagement, that are built upon this foundation. Leveraging these findings, we theorise a novel model of the interaction of consumers and system artefacts in sociotechnical assemblages. We refer to this novel phenomenon of brand community centred on self-quantification as quantified selfin-community, and consider both the beneficial and potentially deleterious impacts that it presents.
引用
收藏
页码:569 / 604
页数:36
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