Can a user centred approach to designing a user interface for rural communities be successful?

ABSRACT The aim of this study is to develop a model for the design and implementation of user interfaces for rural communities. Small enterprise owners were taught computer and business management skills. The research questions concerned the involvement in the design and evaluation of user interfaces by users with low levels of user interface experiences and low levels of computer literacy, the effect of raising the level of computer literacy, and the preferred communication method of the users with the design team. Results show that users with low user interface experience could evaluate options presented, but could not design the user interface, language should be selected by the user and the preferred communication channel was face-to-face.