Technology Abandonment

The phenomenon where users stop using a technology or assistive device after initial adoption, often due to poor usability, lack of perceived benefit, inadequate training, or misalignment with actual needs and routines. Technology abandonment rates are particularly high among older adults and people with disabilities, with research showing that up to one-third of assistive devices are abandoned within the first year. Common factors contributing to abandonment include overly complex interfaces, rapid software updates that change familiar workflows, lack of ongoing technical support, privacy and security concerns, and technologies that fail to integrate with users' existing social practices and daily routines.