Can human values influence metaverse technology? The case of augmented reality smart glasses adoption

Cases abound where emerging technologies expectations fail to materialize at the adoption stage even when the design and technical specifications are intact. The objective of this study is to examine how human values affect the acceptance of metaverse technology, particularly augmented smart glasses (ARSG) which is absent in literature. We developed and evaluated a research model to analyze users' intention to use ARSG grounded on Schwartz's three high-order values (Openness to Change, Conservation, and Self-Enhancement) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study participants completed two survey forms after engaging in hands-on practice with ARSG. A total of 126 participants completed the full process, and the data was analyzed using WarpPLS software. The results show that two high-order values substantially impact users' intentions to use ARSG. The model's results demonstrate that human values can accurately explain the adoption of emerging technologies. These results emphasize the significance of considering human values in the conception and widespread adoption of metaverse technology, such as ARSG. This research advances knowledge on what factors affect metaverse technology acceptance using a more robust integrated model. Our research can inform the design and development of wearable technologies that align with the users' values and are more widely accepted and used in the metaverse ecosystem.