Study of Instructional Illustrations on ICTs: Considering persona of low-literate users from India

Abstract

Technology has the potential to improve the lives of underprivileged communities from developing regions of the world, especially those with low-literacy skills. Human Computer Interaction (HCI) researchers have conducted studies to understand an effective way to communicate with this group using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Beyond facilitating communication, ICTs have transformed the way low-literate users send money, learn skills and seek references, etc. As instructions (guidelines, rules, laws or warnings) play an important part while using these services on ICTs, finding effective ways to deliver those instructions has become crucial for HCI practitioners, as low-literate users face difficulties in using ICTs with only textual interfaces [1]. This study focuses on communicating these instructions through visual communication in the form of instructional illustrations. The study further investigates the effectiveness of 'Instructional Illustrations' using an educational mobile app and compares it with traditional instructional video communication with the low-literate group of Anganwadi workers in India.