Rangoli: a visual phonebook for low-literate users

ABSTRACT

In developing countries, language and literacy are barriers that prevent many people from using simple applications like a phonebook on mobile phones. The traditional, alphabetical organization is not good enough for low-literate users who either do not know or have forgotten the alphabetical order of any script. We propose Rangoli, a phonebook that explores several ideas. It organizes contacts in nine colour 'pages'. On each page nine icons are displayed in that colour. A contact is associated with a colour and an icon. Any contact can be accessed by pressing only two buttons on the number-pad. The spatial location of each contact does not change even as the phonebook fills up. The limitation of 81 contacts is not a major problem for these users for now. Rangoli was first conceived during a class project and was improved through iterations of user study, design and evaluation.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Interaction styles (e.g., commands, menus, forms, direct manipulation)

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Screen design (e.g., text, graphics, color); User-centered design

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
appropriate design, digital divide, literacy