Interface design guidelines for low literature users: a literature review

Abstract

The study presented in this paper is part of the investigation project “Echoing the Communal Self (ECHO)”, consisting of the development of an online platform that identifies, interprets and disseminates current self-regulated community practices in social housing neighbourhoods in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, in Portugal. This online platform intends to reach individuals of similar disadvantaged communities, aiming to stimulate, teach and guide them towards the replication of such good practices. Given that most of these individuals show low levels of education and literacy, this study intends to identify a set of guiding UX and UI principles that will serve as a base to the development of the online platform, guaranteeing its efficient usage by this target group. The methodologies were based on a literature review in the fields of UX and UI; serving as the basis for a first sketch of the interface. This study results show that UIs for low literacy users should be simple, clear and objective, considering the users pains and difficulties.