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Master's Thesis Developing Design Recommendations for Computer Interfaces Accessible to Illiterate Users Matthew Paul Huenerfauth, M.S., H.B.S. National University of Ireland University College Dublin Faculty of Science Master of Science (M.Sc.) August 2002 Department of Computer Science and Media Lab Europe Head of Department: Gregory O'Hare Supervisor: Fred Cummins, Ph.D. Table of Contents Acknowledgements.........................................................................................4 Abstract...........................................................................................................5 Introduction: Overview and Methodology ..................................................6 Purpose of the URSULA project .................................................................6 Scope of this Thesis Work ...........................................................................7 Research and Design Methodology .............................................................7 Previous Research Areas Consulted.........................................................7 Timeline of Thesis Research....................................................................8 Structure of this Document ..........................................................................9 Chapter 1: Users and Environment ...........................................................11 The Users: Digital Divide and Technological Literacy .............................11 Digital Divide.........................................................................................11 Telecenter Movement.............................................................................12 Challenges to Technology Use...............................................................12 Previous Technology and Communication Experience .........................13 Promise of the Simputer Project ............................................................14 The Users: Written Language Literacy......................................................15 Definitions and Statistics .......................................................................15 Failings of Current Interfaces for This Population ................................16 Effects of Adult Literacy in Developing Regions..................................16 The Environment: Rural Indian Community Life......................................17 Way of Life in Rural Communities........................................................18 Diversity of Indian Languages...............................................................19 Chapter 2: Technology and Work..............................................................21 The Technology: The Simputer .................................................................21 Form Factor and Component Technologies...........................................21 Information Markup Language ..............................................................22 The Work: Important Applications ............................................................23 Health Information Distribution.............................................................24 Employment Listings .............................................................................25 Online Government Services .................................................................26 Agriculture Information Application .....................................................27 Chapter 3: Previous User Interface Work.................................................28 Previous Work in Accessible Interfaces ....................................................28 Interfaces without Visual Displays ............................................................29 Previous Work on User Interfaces for Illiterate Users...............................30 Goetze & Strothottle: Illiterate Web Browser........................................30 EZ Access Touch Screen Kiosks ...........................................................32 Other Software for Developing Countries .............................................33 Chapter 4: Initial Interface Considerations ..............................................35 Building Interfaces for Novice Users.........................................................35 Memory and the Interface ......................................................................36 Encouraging Exploration .......................................................................37 The Role of Feedback ............................................................................38 1 Input and Output Channels.........................................................................38 Touch Screen Input ................................................................................39 Speech Input and Output........................................................................40 Audio Output Channel ...........................................................................46 Visual Output Channel...........................................................................48 Dialogue Structuring Approaches..............................................................53 Question and Answer .............................................................................54 Menus.....................................................................................................55 Form-filling............................................................................................56 Command Language ..............................................................................58 Direct Manipulation ...............................................................................58 Natural Language...................................................................................59 Chapter 5: HUDS Introduction and Scenario 1........................................61 Approaches to User-Interface Design ........................................................61 Experimental Approaches ......................................................................62 Non-Experimental Approaches..............................................................63 Hypothetical User Design Scenarios......................................................65 HUDS 1: Distributing Health Information.................................................67 Synopsis .................................................................................................67 Entities and Characters in the Scenario..................................................67 The Scenario Script................................................................................69 Analysis of Issues in the Scenario..........................................................74 Areas of Future Research Highlighted...................................................78 Chapter 6: Hypothetical User Design Scenario 2......................................80 Issues Not Explored in HUDS 1 ................................................................80 HUDS 2: Finding Employment..................................................................81 Synopsis .................................................................................................81 Entities and Characters in the Scenario..................................................81 The Scenario ..........................................................................................83 Analysis of Issues in the Scenario..........................................................88 Future Areas of Research.......................................................................97 Chapter 7: Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................98 General Conclusions ..................................................................................98 Advice for Designers ...........................................................................101 Structure of the Recommendations ......................................................103 Command and Control .............................................................................104 Start Page / Portal Screen.....................................................................104 Command Option List..........................................................................105 Users Entering Information......................................................................106 Forms ...................................................................................................106 Yes/No and Short Multiple Choice......................................................107 Long Multiple Choice ..........................................................................107 Geographic Information.......................................................................108 Input of Free Text.................................................................................108 Displaying Information to Users..............................................................109 Index View: Presenting Lists ...............................................................110 Detail View: Navigating Multiple Pages .............................................111 Images and Icons..................................................................................112 2 Continuous System Status....................................................................112 Event Notifications...............................................................................113 Assistance to Users ..................................................................................114 Help with Reading ...............................................................................114
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