| dc.description.abstract | Existing technologies, interaction design methodologies, and usability testing techniques
have been developed mainly for and by the developed world (HeI 2007). For this reason,
the mobile applications intended for the rural users have been and are being designed
using design methods based on past research and implementation on user groups
diversely differing from the target user of a developing country's rural context. Successful
design of relevant user interfaces will require sensitive use of design practices in the local
context, to cater for this category of users whose needs and perceptions are very unique
and diverse.
In order to achieve this, this study sought to gain a deep and expansive understanding of
the diverse and unique needs and perceptions of the target users in a local rural context
through study of the rural users
.Based on the results of the study we examined existing usability design methods and
identified design methods that could be employed to inform the development of a design
framework relevant for development of mobile interfaces for rural users in a developing
country such as Kenya
Finally, we designed and developed a mobile user interface - based application using the
new framework developed - 'The Translating User Design Mode/' in order to examine the
research findings and test the design framework.
Results of the study demonstrate the vital relevance of this research work. It is critical
that not only should mobile applications be designed and developed with the rural user in
mind, but also that design tools used should guide the designer in putting the rural user
and the local context at the centre of the development.
Future directions for study in this area have also been discussed and the resulting design
model that has been developed will be a valuable tool that will provide other researchers
with insight into the development of usable mobile application in the local rural context. | en |
