Usability for User Empowerment: Promoting Social Justice and Human Rights through Localized UX Design

Abstract

Successful task performance in a health or medical-related activity, especially in treating critical patients through biotechnology in resource-constrained settings, is determined by product usability that emphasizes the ease of use, error recovery, efficiency, and satisfaction. This means that technical products designed to be used in this context need to be efficient and easy to use. Research findings and suggestions laid out in this paper will highlight the importance of use context that allows for effective use of technological products across cultures. Successful patient treatments through biotechnology in resource-constrained settings and health communications are intrinsically connected to the concept of product usability. Such goals can be achieved through localized UX design practices that help users perform their desired tasks with speed, accuracy, and satisfaction, and thus promote social justice and inclusion in resource-constrained settings. Through a case study, this paper shares findings related to usability problems in technology transfer from industrialized nations to an underrepresented, underdeveloped country. The article provides implications of the findings, suggesting that designers in industrialized nations should consider how technological products designed through localized usability can be better positioned to be used for promoting social justice and human rights in the underserved, undeveloped countries.