Research paper: Establishing the need, demand, use and ability to access Wikipedia using mobile phones in South Africa

This  page links to a pre-print paper, researched and written in 2013 for a Masters assignment at the University of Cape Town. It explores the information and knowledge-seeking habits of the mobile internet-using public in Cape Town, South Africa. It analyses two surveys carried out in face-to-face interviews and a usability study with random members of Cape Town’s public to ascertain the need for knowledge over information. The report uses the data to assess the demand for a mobile-accessible online encyclopaedia, and measure the respondent’s awareness of and use of Wikipedia.

Lastly, a small usability sample explores the ease of access to the encyclopaedia using the participants’ mobile phones, thus being able to expose familiar and habitual practice.

Keywords: Mobile interrelationships, usability interface, mobile internet, mobile usability, human mobile interaction, multi-media, information networks, Wikipedia

Link to paper: Establishing the need, demand, use and ability to access Wikipedia using mobile phones in South Africa