A user based perspective on limits to the adoption of new technology

This theoretical paper investigates limits to adoption that new technologies are more likely to find from users of notionally out-of-date technologies. An interpretive framework is posited explaining that older technologies may continue to be used when: features of the old technology have superior complementarity or benefit from technological complexity; their community of users hold negative stereotypes of newer technology or the new technology has not created a strong enough contagion effect; expertise in the existing technology does not help use the new technology or use of the new technology requires high switching costs.