I can't find it but I remember reading an article about a touchscreen UI that was used for intake at a pediatrician's office. Kids were MUCH more likely to respond honestly to mental health questions (e.g., do you ever think about suicide?) on a computer than they were if a doctor or nurse asked them the same question or gave them a paper questionnaire. So I suspect you are correct that the computer feels more like a neutral or non-judgmental intermediary.
If your audience is illiterate, you'll need to provide spoken instructions on the kiosk itself. The start screen might have a picture of a hand or something that indicates it can be touched. Or maybe one of the staff can help the user get started by selecting the right language for him. You'll probably have some persistent navigation like "help," "repeat," "go back" and the like. Explain in the beginning what these buttons do and highlight them when the narrator talks about their function. Color cues may be a problem if your users are color blind, so combine this with common symbols and/or shapes. Not sure how you will do the intake portion without a keyboard. I imagine you'll have to present a short multiple choice list (with photographs?), read the choices to the user, and allow him to touch his choice. Does it make sense to have them speak their answers to the kiosk? Privacy, dialect, and enunciation may be problems with this. My experience is that people really like touchscreens. If done correctly, they are empowering to the user and give him a feeling of control, and in your case, hopefully, dignity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=39252 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
