Designing for the Next Billion Users
The concept of accessibility in user experience design and designing for “The Next Billion Users” is a fascinating topic I have been studying and researching on. There are just as many mobile phones in Nigeria and South Africa as in the United States. This means that technology is growing at a breakneck pace. Globally, according to Google Design, there are a billion people worldwide who are just starting to use the internet and get online for the first time. These people are referred to as the Next Billion Users or NBU.
For the past two decades, most of those users have been concentrated in the developed world. A combination of disposable income, high quality of life, and good infrastructure made it relatively easy to access the internet. Payal Arora, in his book “Digital Life Beyond The West”, describes the internet as a continuous and ongoing project, one that is constantly going to be shaped by the people who use it.” As a user experience designer, one thing comes to my mind while designing; “how might we” design products and services that limit entry barriers for the Next Billion Users? User experience shouldn’t just focus on the experience of existing users; it also pays special attention to people who are about to become internet users. Empathising with the NBU is crucial in understanding their perception of things, and this will help me tailor my designs accordingly.
I had the opportunity to design a financial technology Point-of-Sale application which mainly targeted users that live in less developed parts of the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja. These users don’t have access to traditional banks for quick financial transactions like withdrawing money and inter-bank money transfer. I had to consider factors like digital literacy and access to the internet. People might not be familiar with certain design patterns or icons that we take for granted. For example, they might not know what swipe means in relation to a touchscreen. The NBU will most likely buy phones with low memory and speed, making apps load slower. It is imperative for designers and software engineers to figure out how to improve storage without raising the price point. The ability to temporarily disable apps is one way UX designers and engineers can make this happen.
Accessibility is often correlated with optimising products, places, and experiences for individuals with disabilities like poor vision or hearing impairments. This shouldn’t be so. Hardware, software, environments, language, and culture can present potential obstacles to fully engaging with technology. I found this study very rewarding as it did not only guide my design process; it also shed more light on the importance of empathy in designing for accessibility and inclusion.
