Technology Resistance: The Case of Food Production Processes

This article examines the relationship between food technology acceptance and the public’s food literacy, defined in terms of consumers’ scientific understanding of food technology. The research investigates four food technologies—food irradiation, genetic modification, biofabrication, and bug-based food—that have immense implications for consumer and societal well-being. The findings reveal complex relationships between consumer understanding of these technologies and acceptance that arise from the multidimensional nature of resistance. Using these results, the authors develop a framework for predicting and addressing consumer resistance to food technology. In addition, they explore the effectiveness of knowledge-based interventions that illustrate how marketing can enhance food literacy, reduce technology resistance, and enhance well-being. Finally, they describe how their findings also speak to the food policy, food marketing, food socialization, and food availability dimensions of the “food = well-being” paradigm.

Revisiting Technology Resistance: Current Insights and Future Directions

Nuance conceptualization of technology resistance is needed due to the different conceptualizations that exist in the extant literature. This paper calls for information systems (IS) researchers to begin exploring technology resistance using novel perspectives. The paper also provides a guideline for conceptualizing technology resistance away from the common existing conceptualization that is shaped through theories of adoption and resistance-to-change. The goal is to encourage future research to conceptualize technology resistance beyond the typical findings available in the literature and provide more insights in light of the provided arguments and suggestions.

Replicants, imposters and the real deal: Issues of non-use and technology resistance in vintage and software instruments

This paper explores non-use and technology resistance among musicians and enthusiasts devoted to analog synthesizers (particularly vintage synthesizers from the 1970s), and the recent influx of software simulations that often elicit critical and negative reactions among this group of devotees. Drawing on a combination of assemblage theory and affect theory this paper presents a case study of a prominent online music community and asks: What does this particular instance of technological resistance reveal about the social construction of technology and the on-going emotional and material negotiations that constitute digital and analog experiences? Results show that the possession or appreciation of analog synthesizers and the rejection of their digital counterparts is less about composing music or playing with others and more about a solitary activity that is deeply emotional, experiential and carefully untainted by the impurity of digital processing and equipment.