Task-Technology Fit

A concept from information systems research describing how well a technology's capabilities match the requirements of the tasks it is used to perform. In assistive technology, task-technology fit is critical to successful adoption: a mismatch between the type of assistive device and the user's actual tasks is one of the leading causes of technology abandonment. For example, using a voice recognition system designed for word processing to control a drafting application, or using a limited-vocabulary system for tasks requiring extensive free-text input, creates frustration and failure regardless of the technology's quality. Effective assistive technology assessment must evaluate not just a user's abilities but also the specific tasks they need to accomplish.