Understanding the acceptance of 3D printing toolkits. An extension of the technology acceptance model

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Computer Science - Internet New Technologies grade: 13 Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg language: English abstract: The goal of this paper to find out factors that affect the acceptance of 3D printing toolkits. A hypothesized research model for 3D printing toolkits is proposed. Based on a survey of 30 participants this research model is analyzed and evaluated. The result is that five of these seven proposed determinants have a strong influence on the Behavioral Intention to Use such a toolkit. Additive manufacturing also known as 3D printing (3DP) is a technology which gained a lot of interest in recent years. The market is supposed to grow further with a new annual growth record of 35 % in 2013. However the world leading market report for additive manufacturing the Wohlers report states that growth in the upcoming years is especially going to be driven by 3-D printers that cost less than $5000 as well as the expanded use of the technology for the production of parts especially metal that go into final products. [1] Consequently the following paper focuses on 3D printing for non-experts as more and more citizens can afford this technology and as there is not a lot of research in the field of information systems about 3D printing on the consumer level. Questions such as What are the needs of consumers regarding 3D printing? Which are the top products the consumers want to produce? How do these non-experts deal with 3D printing design software? have not been answered satisfactory yet. The goal of this paper to find out factors that affect the acceptance of 3D printing toolkits. A hypothesized research model for 3D printing toolkits is proposed. Based on a survey of 30 participants this research model is analyzed and evaluated. The result is that five of these seven proposed determinants have a strong influence on the Behavioral Intention to Use such a toolkit. There are two diff