This work focuses on a contribution that ICT (Information & Communication Technologies) could make to the quality of life for low-income expat workers. In pursuit of what Nussbaum (1997) and Sen (1999) call a truly human life, certain capabilities are key. Capabilities, as used here, are valued abilities with end goals that emerge in areas such as: fostering friendship, feeling emotional attachment, being respected, enjoying recreational activities, and having control over one’s environment. Within this area of study, the need for further consideration emerges based on current research into how ICTs actually contribute to a community’s pursuit of a truly human life: my work reveals that most research has targeted either low-income or migrant populations, but not both. This is important because a synthesis of these two problems cannot be understood under the umbrella of either. The one study that does look at a synthesis of this population did so with a subset of domestic workers, which is not representative of many low-income expats. Further, there is controversy surrounding which ICTs can actually make an impact. My work aligns with those who argue that smartphones show the most promise. From this perspective, my work approaches this problem in two stages: first, I employ user-centered design methods including interviews, observations, and a participatory design approach focused on both visual and verbal feedback to prioritize needs from the user’s point-of-view. Analysis of the data reveals that the capabilities of friendship, respect and play dominated. Using that analysis as a starting point, I created the prototype for an ICT that materializes these capabilities, to increase the potential for a community to experience a truly human life.
