IBM will research mobile access for the aged and illiterate

While voice would appear to be the most relevant technology for access to information on mobile phones for illiterate people, it may not be the best option when it comes to information like statistical tables or pictorial data, Rajput said.

IBM and partners are also looking at other ways to access information, including the use of images as an accessory to text and audio content. Information on pesticides could for example be presented to farmers with visuals such as a picture of the crop, he said.

The researchers also plan to use accelerometers to design interfaces that are more closely related to the physical environment. A number of mobile phones already use accelerometers for interface control.