ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. This book synthesises and builds upon a selection of the contributions from the above-mentioned conference in order to explore the social dynamic character of the adoption and use of ICTs by individuals, social groups and organisations. The empirical research presented in the book is unique in terms of its breadth, because it provides grounded insights into how and why different kinds of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)s are, are not, or are only partially, accepted, used and integrated into everyday life. The aim of this book is to discuss the adoption and use of ICTs in real life settings. In the classical technological and marketing oriented literature, the ICT user is all too often generalised, without considering the specifics of his or her everyday life and work situation.
