MultiMath: Using Numeric Keypads to Utilize Limited Computer Resources for Education

As the need for access to technology in developing regions increases rapidly, the supply of personal computers in these areas fails to meet the demand. In the context of education and the presence of computers in under-funded schools, the computer-to-child ratio limits equal access to educational material and deprives marginalized children of valuable digital literacy skills. In this paper we expand on prior shared computing research to demonstrate that ten-key numeric keypads are usable as primary input devices and provide the benefits of increased engagement and collaborative learning while offering an inexpensive and versatile educational tool for shared computing scenarios.