TroTro: Web browsing and user interfaces in rural Ghana

Laura Dan Li, Jay Chen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The quality of Internet connections around the world is extremely varied and very poor in rural areas despite high enthusiasm and investment of resources in computers. This study focuses on Internet users at schools and Internet cafés in rural Ghana. We wished to explore whether there were challenges to Internet use in addition to the poor connection quality itself. In our study we found that beyond connectivity, the lack of computer knowledge, poor usability of web interfaces, and "foreignization" of technology compounded the problem. To improve web access in these contexts, we designed TroTro, a browsing system that maintains a usable experience despite fluctuating connectivity and a wide range of user expertise. We followed web usability heuristics in our design and our results show evidence that our system allows both novice and expert computer users to enhance their individual web experience, explore content across different kinds of network conditions, and share resources within their community.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Information and Communications Technologies and Development, ICTD 2013
Pages185-194
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Event6th International Conference on Information and Communications Technologies and Development, ICTD 2013 - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: Dec 7 2013Dec 10 2013

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series
Volume1 FULL PAPER

Other

Other6th International Conference on Information and Communications Technologies and Development, ICTD 2013
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period12/7/1312/10/13

Keywords

  • Developing regions
  • Information access
  • Internet
  • Poor connectivity
  • Web

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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