A1 Journal article (refereed)
Juoksijoiden perusteita digitaalisten liikuntateknologioiden käyttämättä jättämiselle (2023)
Runners’ reasons for non-use of digital sport technology

Mertala, P., & Palsa, L. (2023). Juoksijoiden perusteita digitaalisten liikuntateknologioiden käyttämättä jättämiselle. Liikunta ja tiede, 60(2), 75-82. https://www.lts.fi/media/lts_vertaisarvioidut_tutkimusartikkelit/2023/liikunta-tiede-lehti-2-2023-sivut-75-82-mertala-palsa.pdf

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mertala, Pekka; Palsa, Lauri

Journal or series: Liikunta ja tiede

ISSN: 0358-7010

eISSN: 2737-0305

Publication year: 2023

Volume: 60

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 75-82

Publisher: Liikuntatieteellinen seura

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: https://www.lts.fi/media/lts_vertaisarvioidut_tutkimusartikkelit/2023/liikunta-tiede-lehti-2-2023-sivut-75-82-mertala-palsa.pdf

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86501

Abstract

In the 2020s, the use of sport technology has become more the rule than the exception in digitized societies like Finland. The normativity of the use of technology is also present in the research literature, as the research examining the nonuse of sport technology is scant and one-sided in its view of humanness. In this article, we have chosen a hermeneutic perspective on the non-use of technology. We see the nonuse of technology as an active and conscious choice, and as a reflection of a person’s relationship with digitalized society, exercise, and oneself. Our focus is on running, which as a common and heavily technologicalized form of exercise offers a rich environment for research into the non-use of technology. Through an abductive analysis of the qualitative survey data, we identified four intersecting themes: 1) Technology, and its use and non-use are not categorical and binary issues; 2) Non-use of technology as freedom; 3) The unnecessariness of technology in relation to the meanings given to running and 4) The material reasons for the non-use of technology. The results of the study provide runners, professionals who work with them, technology developers, and researchers conceptual tools for examining the relationship between sports and technology.

Keywords: physical hobbies; running; digitalisation; sports technology; intelligent systems; experiences (knowledge); attitudes; freedom; bodiliness; critique of technology

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1