Tangible User Interface for Sanitation Education in Rural India : Design and Preliminary Observations

Tangible user interfaces offer a new medium for education in rural India, helped by its low barrier for entry for the digitally illiterate. In this paper we discuss the design considerations & the pedagogical settings for a tangible environment to teach the skill of surveying optimal locations for toilets and soak pits. We also discuss findings from the pilot test of the technology with 10 women from rural India. This technology is intended as a pedagogical tool instead of being a full blown "serious game" so as to bring the focus on the conversations and discussion prompted by the technology, than on the technology itself.