Social Perceptions about Adopting Smartphone Applications in the Context of Collaborative Security

Abstract

Currently, virtual and real social networks overlap through wide access to Internet-connected devices, which use software and websites that promote interactions among individuals, groups and networks of dynamic relationships. The use of mobile devices such as smartphones, offers wide range of possibilities for solutions to people's everyday problems. However, it is important to investigate the acceptance and appropriateness of these alternatives in relation to different user profiles. Thus, this research aims to investigate the perception of a user's group facing the possible adoption of the Life360 application in seek for improvement of family safety. The study was conducted by means of questionnaires and interviews with people from the city of Itajubá -- MG. The perceptions collected were analyzed from the perspective of the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the progressive model of adoption. As a result, a low-cost model that allows evaluating critical points in the process of adoption was obtained. It is concluded that the Life360 is more suitable for people with higher income and education, given the features found in the progressive model of adoption1.