ChartMaster: A tool for promoting financial inclusion of novice investors

Abstract

ChartMaster is a digital tool developed by Hong Zou in 2015, through co-design with visually impaired screen reader users, to improve the accessibility and usability of interactive stock market charts. The first ChartMaster usability study, conducted with screen reader users, demonstrated that the tool not only helped them access data points quicker and easier, but also proved to be “educational.” The next usability study, conducted with sighted novice investors to examine ChartMaster’s educational value, is described in this paper. Novice investors found it easier to discover features, learn action possibilities and locate specific data through ChartMaster than through direct interaction with stock market charts. Several of their experiences, such as finding the summary feature helpful in understanding the chart, were similar to those reported previously by visually impaired screen reader users, suggesting comparable cognitive and emotional barriers to financial literacy for both groups. Improvements to Chart- Master were also suggested.