Empirical Study on the Ubiquitous Computing Characteristics Affecting the Use of U-Service

U-서비스 이용에 영향을 미치는 유비쿼터스 특성에 관한 실증연구

Ubiquitous computing is enhancing computer use by making many computers available throughout the physical environment, but making them effectively invisible to the user. To facilitate the successful adoption and diffusion of ubiquitous computing, it is necessary to figure out the factors affecting the use of U-service. Though the research related to ubiquitous computing has been vigorously conducted from the aspect of system and service provider, there have been very few studies that focus on the user's perspective. Therefore, this study attempts to figure out major factors which are dedicated to the development of ubiquitous computing and u-service, and that ultimately influence the u-business outcome. This study derived the factors that characterize u-service, such as ubiquity, contextual offer, reliability, invisibility, and confidentiality, which are then combined in the TAM model and carry out the path analysis. The research findings indicate that ubiquity affects both the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The reliability and confidentiality were found to affect the perceived usefulness, whereas the contextual offer and invisibility turned out to influence the perceived ease of use. Finally, the relationship among the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and the attitude toward using are identical with the previous research findings related to the technology acceptance model(TAM).