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Title of the thesis: Everyday Appropriation of Technology: Experiences, Challenges, and Implications

Thesis defender: Rongjun Ma 
Opponent: Assistant Professor Carla F. Griggio, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark 
Custos: Professor Janne Lindqvist, Aalto University School of Science

Digital technologies have become deeply embedded in our everyday routines — from checking messages first thing in the morning to searching for information through web browsers and boosting productivity with AI-powered tools. But how do these technologies become part of our daily lives?

This doctoral research investigates how individuals adopt, adapt to, and integrate digital technologies into everyday life. The study focuses on four technology contexts: web browsing, custom GPTs, communication channels, and digital gaming within households. It examines how people experience and manage challenges such as information overload, privacy concerns, switching between platforms, and navigating the social dynamics that shape technology use.

The research reveals that technology use unfolds through a process of co-adaptation, where both the user and the technology evolve over time. People adjust technology settings to better fit their needs, yet they also modify their own habits in response to how the technology is designed. For example, when faced with the stress of too many open browser tabs or evaluating the usage of custom GPTs, individuals weigh trade-offs between utility and concern. They employ both problem-based strategies, such as technical adjustments, and emotion-based coping strategies to manage their experience.

As technology continues to evolve rapidly, particularly with the rise of AI, understanding the human side of digital engagement becomes increasingly important. The findings of this dissertation can inform the design of more user-friendly technologies that not only prioritize efficiency but also support people’s sense-making and well-being. The thesis offers actionable recommendations for clearer communication in design choices, greater flexibility for individual needs, and practical guidance to help users navigate complexity.

By examining how people engage with technology across diverse situations, this research contributes to a more human-centered understanding of our relationship with digital tools and offers direction for more responsible, empathetic, and supportive technology design.

Keywords: technology appropriation, browsing clutter, multichannel communication, privacy, household gaming

Contact information: rongjun.ma@aalto.fi 

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at .