Technology, innovation and leisure: Leisure engagement in new and unexpected ways

AbstractThe interweaving of technology and leisure has become an integral part of leisure choice, access, engagement, management, and product development. This interweaving has resulted in new and innovative ways people can access leisure, created leisure opportunities for marginalized groups, and improved efficiencies and effectiveness in management. However, challenges have also resulted, such as the blurring of work/leisure time, raising quality of life issues. The intent of this special issue is to bring attention to ways in which technology and leisure influence each other. The articles in this issue explore various types of technology used to experience leisure, leisure constraints to technology, and aspects of identity related to technology, and leisure. This special issue can extend the body of knowledge of leisure and technology thus contributing to innovations in leisure and better quality of life.Keywords: leisuretechnologyinnovationquality of life AcknowledgmentsThe authors would like to thank people who supported this special issue, especially the Journal of Leisure Research’s editorial team including the Editor-in-Chief Dr. Kindal Shores, former Editor-in-Chief Dr. Paul Heintzman, the Senior Associate Editors, and Associate Editors who have provided valuable feedback on our initial special issue idea. We also want to thank the authors who contributed to this special issue. And we are especially grateful for the reviewers who offered their insights and helped the rigorous review process.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by Kent State University (USA) and Chile’s National Research and Development Agency (ANID) under ANID’s Regional Program R17A10002, the CIEP R20F0002 project, and the CHIC-ANID PIA/BASAL PFB210018.