There are one billion people living in India and nearly one third are illiterate. Can you imagine how they get by in a world full of text? Although the mobile phone is a convenient communication tool, it’s nearly impossible for people who can’t read or write to use one.

The Voice Labeler is a low-cost concept for mobile phones designed to improve usability for illiterate consumers. Designed for basic mobile phones, it allows users to save numbers by recording names instead of typing them and contact numbers are identified by hearing instead of reading.

“Through profound research of Indian lifestyles, especially those of illiterate people, we found that they primarily communicate within a close circle of contacts and use recent call history as an alternate address book,” said designers Jaeun Park and Hwa Jung Hong. “To let them make the most of mobile services, they needed an easier way to manage their contact list and new ways of identifying people without using text.

Voice Labeler with Frequent Contact List supports the user’s ability to gather and create contact lists without depending on textual understanding and provides easier access to frequently called numbers. This feature can easily be added to basic low-cost mobile phones in the current market with a small software development fee that considers the low financial statuses of illiterates.

Enterprises can expand the target users’ spectrum by providing them with a mobile phone with better usability, which benefits both consumers and enterprises.

“With this feature, illiterate people in emerging countries can benefit from the mobile technology and adapt a communicative lifestyle, which is crucial to improve their lives in modern days.”

Designed by
Jaeun Park, Hwa Jung Hong - Seoul, Korea