Nothing is neutral, and the technology we design and build, isn’t objective. How do we ensure that what starts out as a great idea, doesn’t unintentionally (or intentionally) harm? Trolling, racially biased algorithms, surveillance capitalism, how do we assess our creations through an ethical lens so our products don’t amplify social biases? Do we need a code of ethics? How do we build ethics in our practice?
In this talk Sofia explores these questions and builds on the conversations that are happening globally within the technology community. She also talks about the Responsible Tech Playbook that ThoughtWorks is building which collate ethical frameworks and explore how to use them in design and delivery of software.
SPEAKER:
Sofia Woods, Senior Experience Designer, ThoughtWorks
Sofia has over 10 years experience solving complex problems and designing digital products, experiences and services across government, financial services, transport and the private sectors. She’s a multi-disciplined designer, experienced with the whole gamut of Human Centred Design approaches including UX research, user interface design, prototyping/ testing and can apply this approach in large scale software delivery environments. Blending human centred design with strategy and technology, she creates meaningful experiences that transform.
12. ● Voice tech reinforces the master/servant
dynamic
● The gendering reinforces women in servitude
roles
● It doesn’t respond appropriately to abuse
12
VOICE ASSISTANTS:
IS ALEXA NEUTRAL?
Recoding Voice Technology, Is a Feminist Alexa Possible?
18. ROLE OF THE
CONSCIENTIOUS
DESIGNER
● Know that they have the power to shape people’s
engagement with technology through their
values
● Know that digital technologies embody ethical
and political values
● By accepting this means they can consider
ethical and political concerns alongside typical
design and engineering ideals/practises
18
Mary Flanagan and Helen Nissenbaum, Values at Play in Digital Games
20. 20
Conscientious designers...
“work for the people affected by the problem. Under
no circumstances do we put those people at risk. “
- Mike Monteiro (Ruined by Design)
21. 21
“We need to value the consequences of our
actions more than the cleverness of our ideas”
Mike Monteiro, Ruined by Design
25. 25
If we were to have a code...
“applying the Code to your daily work doesn’t mean
just reading it once, but considering it holistically”
https://www.infoq.com/articles/acm-code-ethics/
31. EthicalOS
● Toolkit to help shape strategy or tech
● Assess your product against 8 risk zones
● Activities to address better informed outcomes
● Useful in pre-conception and discovery
WHAT IT IS?
31Reference: EthicalOS
47. 47
1. Use the checklists to choose the risk most
critical
2. Once identify them write and put on post its
3. Write the questions/prompts and put them
underneath risks
○ Discuss questions
○ Put outcomes on wall
PRIORITISE ACTIVITY
PRIORITISE RISKS
5min