“ MOBILE LEARNING DEVICE FOR RURAL PEOPLE” - project 3

The Graduate diploma project of a duration of 4 months: Feb07 - May07.

The project is an attempt to arrive at a conceptual device, which acts as a complimentary system to the present classroom based elementary and adult education system, taking the content directly to the people while they are working. The advances in mobile phone technology and radio are studied and applied to arrive at this system, which is based on the recital way of learning.
The goal is to teach elementary language and mathematical skills, to the unlettered through voice and relative animations, through the device.

A process of learning, based on the three aspects - lessons, practice and motivation is arrived at, through which the interaction model and the physical device is designed.

Lessons broadcast through the device:

-Pre recorded content broadcasted through the radio network.

-Voice, text and image through messages, which could be recorded for repetitive playback.

Learning by playing back the lessons on the device:

-Recite along and save it to the device for playback later.

-Playback, check the recitals, re-recite.

Motivation by playing games stored in the device or sms sent to the device:

-Play different games to earn points, both while working and when free, to win a certificate and a prize!!!

-Answer real-time quiz in lunch hours to take home some more points.

-Get important tips in agriculture, public hygiene, community welfare, etc. as prizes for the quiz and games.

The controls - for navigation and usage are hardware driven, with the user getting feedback from touch, geometry - location and voice. The screen acts as a supplementary aid for learning.

The design catered to the aspect of 'wearing the product' while in use, so as a minimum disturbance was created for the users, while working. The product form was influenced by the interaction model and the wearability option, with lot of trials in models done to arrive at the final circualr dial. In another 'avataar' the device is converted as a handheld device, with the screen part 'fitting' into the control dial as shownbelow...