Towards proposing an intelligent error limiting User Interface for rural Indian data entry operators

This paper intends report an experiment to determine the errors in data entry tasks in the context of rural Indian data entry operations. Rate of errors in data entry is a critical metric for determining output efficiency of data entry operations. Errors in data entry, for example in banking, may result in terrible consequences. It is posited that there is an increase in errors committed by data entry operators when they input data in a language other than their mother tongue (local language). Data entry is a means of lively hood for many rural based service providers in India. This paper studies the errors attributed to local language influences on data entry operators at rural based IT work centers whose manpower is primarily educated in the local language more often their mother tongue. It proposes an anticipatory warning / correction / error limiting capability to be embedded into the software user interface and to get reflected on the User Interface. Most data entry on computers is done using English language. A pilot study was conducted using an experimental interface designed to test the frequency of errors and difference in 'time required' during English language usage as compared to usage in local language (Marathi or Assamese language in this Indian case). Computer based background recording of data input enabled collection of the speed of input and errors thereof. The results indicate that there indeed is an increase in the errors when the operators use language other than their mother tongue to enter data.