A Qualitative Exploration of a User-Centered Model for Smartwatch Comfort Using Grounded Theory

Abstract

Smartwatch comfort is a fundamental factor that significantly influences the user experience and provides crucial guidance for the evolution of wearable technology. However, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive theoretical model to describe the dimensions of smartwatch comfort and their corresponding influencing factors. Therefore, the present study employed a bottom-up grounded theory approach to construct a user-centered model for smartwatch comfort. Through the coding of in-depth interviews with 64 smartwatch users, we discovered that smartwatch comfort encompasses both physiological dimensions (e.g., pressure and foreign body sensation) and psychological dimensions (e.g., perceived intelligence and satisfaction of needs). Furthermore, the features of smartwatches, including physical attributes (e.g., size and material) and functionalities (e.g., interoperability and automation capabilities), directly impact the comfort experience. Additionally, individual and contextual factors can explain variations in the comfort experience of smartwatches. Users with different physiological characteristics (e.g., wrist size and body sensitivity) and psychological needs (e.g., utilitarian or hedonic needs) are influenced differently by the factors of smartwatches that affect their comfort experience. The adaptability of smartwatches across different contexts (including task context, social context, and temporal context) is also a significant influencing factor on comfort. This substantive grounded theory provides crucial guidance for the selection of core variables in future quantitative research and contributes to the development of smarter, more comfortable, and user-centric smartwatches.

Keywords:

• Smartwatch comfort
• grounded theory
• individual differences
• context
• user experience

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liang Xu

Liang Xu obtained his BS in applied psychology and PhD in psychology from Zhejiang University, in 2015 and 2020, respectively. He is currently a lecturer at Zhejiang University of Technology, with research interests spanning human–computer interaction, behavioral psychology, and personality psychology.

Cheng Pan

Cheng Pan is a master’s graduate student in Applied Psychology at Zhejiang University of Technology. With a passion for exploring the intersection of psychology and technology, her research focuses on human-computer interaction.

Bingfei Xu

Bingfei Xu is a master’s student specializing in applied psychology at Zhejiang University of Technology. Her research interests lie in the field of human-computer interaction.

Zaoyi Sun

Zaoyi Sun received the BS degree in psychology from the Zhejiang University of Technology, China, in 2014, and the PhD degree in psychology from Zhejiang University, China, in 2019. She is currently a Lecturer with Zhejiang University of Technology. Her research interests include big-data-based behavioral analysis and user experience.

Keyuan Zhou

Keyuan Zhou holds a bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University and a master’s degree from Purdue University. Currently he is a senior human factors researcher at OPPO. His research area is mainly in the usability evaluation of consumer electronics products.

Rui Yan

Rui Yan obtained a master’s degree in the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research direction is embedded systems. Currently, he is mainly engaged in the research, development and application of health sensors on wearable products.

Kaijian Weng

Kaijian Weng worked for Chinese Academy of Sciences, with research interests spanning cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, brain science. He is currently a human factor researcher in OPPO company.

Yingchao Wu

Yingchao Wu obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, China, in 2005 and 2008, respectively. Currently serving as the head of Hardware Sensors at OPPO Health Lab, his research focuses on areas such as bioelectrical detection and tissue optical sensing.

Hongting Li

Hongting Li is a professor at the Department of Psychology, Zhejiang University of Technology. His research interests include human–computer interaction, ergonomics, user experience, augmented reality, and virtual reality.