De-Contextual Communication: Unified System Information Theory to Investigate Usage Intention of Metaverse Technology in Digital Library Services (preprint)

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many higher education institutions chose to implement online distance learning, and some deployed metaverse technology as a virtual reality learning approach.   However, unclear factors hampered usage intentions and adoption, and no study has been conducted to date to establish the course. Thus, this study we investigate factors influencing usage intentions of metaverse technology in digital library service in higher learning institution using unified system information theory.  An online survey was administered to university staff and students, and responses were recorded using the link-scale. We compute various factors influencing metaverse technology usage intention in library services using transformation models (UTAUT, DM, ISS, and TTF). The model parameters were then empirically tested using PLS-SEM to determine the factors that influence usage intention of metaverse technology. The findings show that, depending on the user's intended task, perceptions of system use, perceived interaction, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use influence users' intentions to use metaverse technology in digital library systems.