Mobile phone use by visually impaired individuals in informal settlements fosters social infrastructure through mediated interactions.
Mobile technology can significantly enhance social connectivity for visually impaired individuals in resource-constrained environments by leveraging and shaping existing support networks.
Academic Publication · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Mobile technology supports and shapes the creation of social infrastructure for visually impaired individuals.
- 02The effectiveness of mobile technology is mediated through four types of interaction: direct, supported, dependent, and restricted, all of which rely on existing support networks.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for visually impaired users in challenging environments, prioritize features that can be easily integrated with existing social support systems and enable various levels of interaction.
How to apply
When designing mobile applications for accessibility, consider how users might rely on friends, family, or community members for assistance, and build features that support these collaborative interactions.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, observe how people interact with each other and with technology in their natural environment.
- 02Consider how existing social structures can be leveraged or supported by your design.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Employs a rich ethnographic approach to understand user behaviour in context.
- +Incorporates user participation through co-design workshops.
Limitations
The specific types of mobile phones and network access available in Kibera might differ from other informal settlements, affecting the generalizability of findings.
Reliability & validity
Reliability could be improved by having multiple researchers observe the same interactions. Validity is enhanced by using multiple research methods (interviews, observation, co-design) to triangulate findings.
Think critically
How might the 'restricted' interaction type be addressed or mitigated through design interventions to promote greater user autonomy?
Design Principles
"Technology adoption and impact are deeply intertwined with the user's existing social and environmental context."
Understanding how users with specific needs interact with technology in diverse contexts is crucial for designing inclusive and effective solutions. This research highlights the importance of considering existing social structures and support systems when developing mobile applications or devices for marginalized communities.
What This Means for Your Design
Even in tough places, mobile phones can help blind people stay connected with others, but it works best when it fits in with the help they already get from people around them.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user context and social factors in your design process, particularly when addressing accessibility or designing for specific communities.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2020). The Social Network: How People with Visual Impairment use Mobile Phones in Kibera, Kenya. Academic Publication. https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376658 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/18835bb5-bbad-499a-983a-11e4b4915fc5/mobile-phone-use-by-visually-impaired-individuals-in-informal-settlements-fosters-social-infrastructure-through-mediated-interactions
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that the successful integration of mobile technology for visually impaired individuals in informal settlements is contingent upon the existing social support networks. The study identified four key interaction types—direct, supported, dependent, and restricted—which underscore the need for designs that acknowledge and facilitate these mediated relationships, rather than assuming independent user operation.
Source
Academic Publication
The Social Network: How People with Visual Impairment use Mobile Phones in Kibera, Kenya
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about mobile phone use by visually impaired individuals in informal settlements fosters social infrastructure through mediated interactions?
- When designing for visually impaired users in challenging environments, prioritize features that can be easily integrated with existing social support systems and enable various levels of interaction. Evidence: Academic Publication (2020).
- Why does "Mobile phone use by visually impaired individuals in informal settlements fosters social infrastructure through mediated interactions." matter for design?
- Understanding how users with specific needs interact with technology in diverse contexts is crucial for designing inclusive and effective solutions. This research highlights the importance of considering existing social structures and support systems when developing mobile applications or devices for marginalized communities.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for visually impaired users in challenging environments, prioritize features that can be easily integrated with existing social support systems and enable various levels of interaction.
- What were the main findings?
- Mobile technology supports and shapes the creation of social infrastructure for visually impaired individuals.. The effectiveness of mobile technology is mediated through four types of interaction: direct, supported, dependent, and restricted, all of which rely on existing support networks.
- What research method was used?
- Mixed-methods research, including contextual interviews, ethnographic observations, and co-design workshops..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Academic Publication.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing mobile applications for accessibility, consider how users might rely on friends, family, or community members for assistance, and build features that support these collaborative interactions.
- What are the limitations?
- The findings are specific to the context of Kibera, Kenya, and may not be generalizable to all informal settlements or visually impaired populations globally. The study did not quantify the extent of social exclusion or inclusion.
- Is there evidence that visually impaired affects design outcomes?
- Mobile phones help visually impaired people build and maintain their social connections, but this is heavily influenced by the type of help they receive from others. Understanding how users with specific needs interact with technology in diverse contexts is crucial for designing inclusive and effective solutions. This Source: Academic Publication (2020).
- Where does this social research apply?
- Informal settlements in Kenya, focusing on visually impaired individuals and their use of mobile phones. It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
visually impaired design research · evidence on visually impaired · does visually impaired improve design outcomes · social studies for designers · visually impaired and social findings · user-centred design research evidence