2023-10-17 –, Junior Ballroom
Are we really building products that serve everyone, or just a selected few?
As developers, we have responsibility to ensure that our products serve everyone, regardless of their background or identity. However, our unconscious bias often creeps into even the most well-intentioned projects and impacts the way we develop products or engage with communities, leading to unintentional exclusions.
When I first designed a Speech-Text-Analytic app, my focus was to simplify business communication with transcribed audio and valuable insights. However, feedback from the community highlighted it had limitations for diverse users, including those with disabilities who faced inaccurate captions for audio content.
This wake-up call prompted me to improve accessibility and user-friendliness for marginalized groups. And for the same reason, I'm making proactive steps to cater for the marginalized by integrating a feature that recognizes Nigerian native languages.
As tech creators, we have the power to create change, but good intentions alone are not enough. This talk will offer strategies to address unconscious bias in product and community building, while avoiding common pitfalls. Attendees will learn to understand diverse needs & experiences for more inclusive environments.
In this talk, I'll share my experience developing a Speech-Text-Analytic app and the wake-up call when I realized it didn't serve our diverse user base, such as individuals with disabilities. This experience taught me the importance of considering the needs of all users, even those who may be marginalized or overlooked, and highlighted the impact of unconscious bias on well-intentioned projects.
The talk will explore actionable strategies to recognize and mitigate unconscious bias in product development and community building, drawing from my personal experience. Attendees will learn how to better understand the needs and experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds, resulting in more inclusive and supportive environments. My aim is to inspire and empower others to apply these approaches in their own projects and contribute to creating more inclusive communities.
This talk is open to everyone (No background knowledge needed)!
Outline
I. Introduction [3mins]
- Opening statement & Background
- Importance of considering multiple identities in product development
II. Unconscious Bias and Inclusive Product Development [7mins]
- Impact of bias on development and engagement
- Strategies to identify and address unconscious bias in tech
- Demonstrating inclusive products, including a case study of an accessible Speech-Text-Analytic app
III. Addressing Intersectionality [5mins]
- Unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups in tech and how to address them
- Role of open-source in promoting inclusivity; and project examples
IV. Conclusion [5mins]
- Recap of key points
- Key takeaway message for the audience: Strategies, Results & Lessons
- Future directions of tech for promoting sustainability and inclusivity
V. Q & A Session [5mins]
Victor Ogunjobi is a Data Scientist and Inclusivity Advocate. He currently serves as a Student Ambassador at Code Warriors, a renowned organization that provides comprehensive training and mentorship to aspiring coders.
In addition to his work, Victor actively contributes to the open-source community on GitHub and participates in initiatives that aim to improve the sustainability of open-source software, contributions, and communities. He is passionate about promoting diversity and equity in the tech industry and believes that open-source technology can play a critical role in driving innovation and progress.