Designing usable icons for non e-literate user

Abstract

The rapid development of technology has caused the emergence of various sophisticated information and communication technologies much cheaper than in previous years. Therefore, the penetration of technology is not only into every aspect of highly developed societies but also into developing countries such as Indonesia, as more and more people can afford to buy a variety of technologies. However, to use the technologies, many of the users in developing countries need to make a rapid technology leap; hence many of them are having difficulty in using the technologies. This paper will look at the cellular phone which is one of the technologies widely used in developing countries. Many people can afford to have cell phones but experience difficulties in making full use of them, such that they only operate the basic functions. One of the reasons for this is the low comprehension level of icons being used in the interface. This study explores the use of alternative icons that may improve user comprehension level by considering the social and cultural background of Indonesian users.