Designing User Interfaces for Low-Literacy Populations in African Contexts: A Review of Practices and Challenges in São Tomé and Príncipe

Designing user interfaces for low-literacy populations in Africa is a critical yet understudied area of research. A comprehensive search was conducted using databases such as JSTOR and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they provided empirical data or qualitative insights into user interface design for low-literacy populations in Africa. Designers in São Tomé and Príncipe have reported success with interactive visual aids that explain text-based information, with up to 70% of users preferring these over traditional written materials. The review identifies a need for more research into the efficacy of different design approaches and user testing methods specific to low-literacy populations in African contexts. Further studies should explore which types of visual aids are most effective, particularly those that can be used across various digital platforms. Model estimation used θ̂=argminθ∑ᵢ(yᵢ,f_θ(xᵢ))+λθ₂², with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.