Fashion & Textile Research Journal (한국의류산업학회지)

The Society of Fashion and Textile Industry (한국의류산업학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Understanding the Consumer Experience about Smart Clothing Using the Critical Incident Technique

결정적 사건기법(CIT)을 이용한 소비자의 스마트 의류 경험에 대한 연구

  • Jaekyong Lee (Dept. of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ha Kyung Lee (Dept. of Clothing and Textiles, Chungnam National University)
  • Received : 2023.04.26
  • Accepted : 2023.06.12
  • Published : 2023.06.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology is diversifying the fashion industry by influencing both the manufacturing processes and the characteristics of fashion products. Although various smart clothing technologies are being developed as part of the government's technology development policy, the number of smart clothing products available to consumers in stores remains very limited. To address this issue, this study analyzes the key attributes of smart clothing as expressed in consumer language. The CIT (Critical Incident Technique) research method was used, and data were collected through an online survey. The study focuses on identifying potential factors that may influence the development direction or strategy of smart clothing. By classifying past experiences and attitudes towards smart clothing into positive and negative categories, it was found that positive responses to smart clothing were heavily influenced by expectations from technology and convenience. Participants' experience with smart technology has had a positive impact on their evaluation of smart clothing. Consumers with negative attitudes towards smart clothing expressed expectations for new benefits resulting from technological development, and indicated that they would consider purchasing such clothing in the future when design and technology improve. Ultimately, this study provides a valuable reference for the development of smart clothing products in Korea by analyzing consumer experiences and acceptance conditions towards smart clothing.

Keywords

References

  1. Anna, P., & Telin, C. (2016). Understand attitude-behavior gaps and benefit-behavior connections in eco-apparel. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 20(1), 105-119. doi:10.1108/JFMM12-2014-0095
  2. Ariyatum, B., & Holland, R. (2003). A strategic approach to new product development in smart clothing. Proceedings of the 6th Asian Design Conference, Tsukuba, Japan, pp. 14-17.
  3. Ariyatum, B., Holland, R., Harrison, D., & Kazi, T. (2005a). The future design direction of smart clothing development. Journal of The Textile Institute, 96(4), 199-210. doi:10.1533/joti.2004.0071
  4. Ariyatum, B., Holland, R., & Harrison, D. (2005b). New conceptual model for design development of smart clothing. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Brunel University, London.
  5. Baurley, S. (2004). Interactive and experiential design in smart textile products and applications. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 8(3-4), 274-281. doi:10.1007/s00779-004-0288-5
  6. Bitner, M. J. (1990). Evaluating service encounters - The effects of physical surroundings and employee responses. Journal of Marketing, 54(2), 69-82. doi:10.1177/002224299005400206
  7. Bitner, M. J., Booms, B. H., & Tetreault, M. S. (1990). The service encounter - diagnosing favorable and unfavorable incidents. Journal of Marketing, 54(1), 71-84. doi:10.1177/002224299005400105
  8. Chae, J. M., Cho, H. S., & Lee, J. H. (2009). Study on consumer acceptance toward the commercialized smart clothing. Science of Emotion & Sensibility, 12(2), 181-192.
  9. Chen, Y. G., & Lee, S. W. (2020). User acceptance intention of wearable device based on UTAUT model -take smart clothing as an example. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 21(2), 311-327. https://doi.org/10.47294/KSBDA.21.2.23
  10. Cho, H., Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2010). A study of directions for development of smart clothing based on the consumer's lifestyle. Journal of Science of Emotion and Sensibility, 13(1), 11-20.
  11. Cho, H., & Lee, J. (2009). A study on the customer perception and acceptance of smart clothing based on the customer's lifestyle. Proceedings of the Korea HCI 2009 Conference, Pyeongchang, Korea, pp. 1114-1121.
  12. Choi, A. Y., & Rha, J. Y. (2011). Understanding the consumer experience in retailing channel using Citical incident technique. Korean Journal of Human Ecology, 20(6), 1185-1198. doi:10.5934/KJHE.2011.20.6.1185
  13. Choi, A. Y., & Rha, J. Y. (2014). What associations do consumers have for smart-tech. Journal of Consumption Culture, 17(4), 131-155. doi:10.17053/jcc.2014.17.4.006
  14. Choi, J., & Park, J. (2018). Smart clothing market status and technology issues. Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea, 45(12), 29-36.
  15. Choi, S., & Lee, J. (2006). A study on customer perception for the development and application of smart clothing. Fashion & Textile Research Journal, 8(4), 420-426.
  16. Dunne, L. (2010). Smart clothing in practice - Key design barriers to commercialization. Fashion Practice, 2(1), 41-65. doi:10.2752/175693810X12640026716393
  17. Dunne, L., Ashdown, S., & Smyth, B. (2005). Expanding garment functionality through embedded electronic technology. Journal of Textile and Apparel Technology and Management, 4(3), 1-11.
  18. Edvardsson, B. (1992). Service breakdowns: a study of critical incidents in an airline. International Journal of Service Industry Management, 3(4), 17-29. doi:0.1108/09564239210019450 https://doi.org/10.1108/09564239210019450
  19. Gentile, C., Spiller, N., & Noci, G. (2007). How to sustain the customer experience: an overview of experience components that co-create value with the customer. European Management Journal, 25(5), 395-410. doi:10.1016/j.emj.2007.08.005
  20. Hanuska, A., Chandramohan, B., Bellamy, L., Burke, P., Ramanathan, R., & Balakrishnan, V. (2016). Smart clothing market analysis. Berkeley: University of California Berkeley.
  21. Hwang, Y., Kang, D., Jun, J., & Choi, J. (2016). An exploratory study on satisfaction and dissatisfaction of social shopping using critical incident technique. Journal of Business, 1(1), 25-29. https://doi.org/10.31152/JB.2016.05.1.1.25
  22. Hwang, Y., & Lee. J. (2006).A research of consumer preferences for smart clothing development, Proceedings of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles Conference, Seoul, Korea, 2006(1), pp. 288.
  23. International Data Corporation. (2019, March 18). IDC forecasts steady double-digit growth for wearables as new capabilities and use cases expand the market opportunities. Wearables. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44930019
  24. Ju, N., & Lee, K. H. (2020). Consumer resistance to innovation - Smart clothing. Fashion and Textiles, 7(1), 1-19. doi:10.1186/s40691-020-00210-z
  25. Jung, J. R., & Oh, K. W. (2021). Impacts of perceived risks for smart shoes on the purchase intention by types of smart shoes. Fashion & Textile Research Journal, 23(1), 84-97. doi:10.5805/SFTI.2021.23.1.84
  26. Kang, K. Y., & Jin, H. J. (2007a). Influences of consumers' fashion innovativeness and technological innovativeness on attitudes and buying intention toward smart clothing. Fashion & Textile Research Journal, 9(1), 35-40.
  27. Kang, K. Y., & Jin, H. J. (2007b). A study on consumers' clothing buying intention adopted by the technology acceptance. The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles, 31(8), 1211-1221. https://doi.org/10.5850/JKSCT.2007.31.8.1211
  28. Kim, J., Jeong, H., & Jo, I. (2009). Trend in digital clothing technology. Journal of Electronic Communications Trend Analysis, 24(5), 20-29.
  29. Kim, Y., Son, J., Hwang, T., & Kim, D. (2013). Trends in the development of smart fiber-based clothing systems. Communications of the Korean Institute of Information Scientists and Engineers, 31(1), 78-98.
  30. Ko, E. J., Okazaki, S., Lee, C. H., & Yun, H. L. (2009). The influences of perceived risk on attributes of smart clothing -comparison among Korea, Spain, and U.S. The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles, 33(6), 893-903. https://doi.org/10.5850/JKSCT.2009.33.6.893
  31. Korean Intellectual Property Office. (2018, April 22). Smart clothing winged by the fourth industrial revolution. Korean Intellectual Property Office Blog. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://blog.naver.com/kipoworld2/221258664199
  32. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. (2014). 2015 KOTRA global economic outlook (KOTRA Ed.). Seoul: Hangseing: B wave.
  33. Lasalle, D., & Britton, T. A. (2002). Priceless: turning ordinary products into extraordinary experiences. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press.
  34. Lee, J., Choo, H., & Kim, H. (2021). A study on smart clothing products based on smart clothing patent application technology. Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles, 45(1), 28-45. doi:10.5850/JKSCT.2021.45.1.28
  35. Na, Y. (2010). A study of the purchase behavior of fashion merchandise for the internet shopping-mall using extended technology acceptance model(ETAM) - in case of perceived value, risk and trust in internet shopping. The Journal of Internet Electronic Commerce Research, 10(3), 27-49.
  36. Noh, M. J., & Park, H. H. (2011). Acceptance of the smart clothing according to trend and information innovation. International Journal of Contents 11(11), 350-363.
  37. Miyazu, H. (2022, Mar 17). Wearable computing devices market study reveals growth factors and competitive outlook for future forecast 2022-2031. COMSERVE. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.comserveonline.com/news-releases/wearable-computingdevices-market-study-reveals-growth-factors-and-competitiveoutlook-for-future-forecast-2022-2031/10023285
  38. Oh, Y. (2012). An integrative critical incident approach to quality management in the smartphone market. Unpublished master's thesis, Seoul National University, Seoul
  39. Park, C. (2016). A meeting between textile fashion and ICT technology. The Federation of Korean Information Industries. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.fkii.or.kr/2014/board/tot.read.php?SC_field=&SC_word=&BBS_GUBUN=6&page=2&BBS_IDX=12188
  40. Park, H. H., & Noh, M. J. (2011). The influence of product attribute of smart clothing on initial trust and purchase intention: focused on sensor-based smart clothing. Family and Environment Research, 49(6), 13-22. doi:10.6115/khea.2011.49.6.013
  41. Park, H. H., & Noh, M. J. (2012). The influence of innovativeness and price sensitivity on purchase intention of smart wear. The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles, 36(2), 218-230. doi:10.5850/JKSCT.2012.36.2.218
  42. Park, Y. (2019). The different analysis of the preference and benefits sought of smart clothing based on demographic characteristics. Journal of Fashion Business, 23(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.12940/JFB.2019.23.1.1
  43. Pine, B. J. (2011). The experience economy (Vol. Rev. ed.). Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press.
  44. Sin, S., & Do, W. (2021). Analysis of user experience for the development of smart golf-wear. Fashion and Textiles, 23(1), 98-105. doi:10.5805/SFTI.2021.23.1.98
  45. Suh, M., Carroll, K. E., & Cassill, N. L. (2010). Critical review on smart clothing product development. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 6(4), 1-12.
  46. Sztompka, P. (1999). Trust - A sociological theory: Cambridge University Press.
  47. Venkatesh, V., & Davis, F. D. J. (2000). A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model - Four longitudinal field studies. Management Science, 46(2), 186-204. doi:10.1287/mnsc.46.2.186.11926
  48. Wong, Y. (2020). Success factors vs. failure factors of restaurants: focusing on the most visited and the stop-visit restaurant by utilizing critical incidents technique. Journal of Foodservice Management, 23(2), 161-184.
  49. Woo, H., & Kim, S. (2021). An expansion of the brand and message framing effects on smart health-care clothing. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 31(4), 622-636. doi:10.1108/JPBM-11-2020-3199
  50. Ziefle, M., Rocker, C., & Holzinger, A. (2011). Perceived usefulness of assistive technologies and electronic services for ambient assisted living. Proceeding of 2011 5th International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare, Dublin: Ireland, pp. 585-592.