The AJL (Algorithmic Justice League) #CodedGaze initiative aims to sensibilise the tech community about Diversity and Inclusion, in particular around three InclusiveCoding principles:
- WHO code is important,
- HOW we code is important
- WHY we code is important.
WHO code is important
It is essential to develop diversity in our teams, as already mentioned here: 5 reasons to promote diversity and inclusion in your teams.
There is still a long way to go in Tech, including in companies that have their credo, like Apple:
“Within Apple, the typical employee is a white man: this is the case for 54% for the total workforce in the United States. There are, of course, variations: they are 76% in the management of Apple Store, and 62% Apple management at all. “
“In 2017, women represent 32% of the workforce, a number that has not changed since last year; 36% of Apple employees under 30 are women, 1 point better than in 2016. 29% of executives are women (+1); 39 % of executives under 30 at Apple are women (+3 points). “
(Source: MacGeneration – Diversité chez Apple : du blanc avec des petites touches de couleur ici et là)
HOW we code is important
Let us make sure to take diversity into account, especially in our datasets:
“Most image classification programs train on huge databases, some containing up to 78% of men’s photos and 84% of whites.”
“In 2017, a team of researchers used a database of nearly 130,000 photos from Google Images to educate the machine to identify skin cancers. Less than 5% of these images represented black skin, and the algorithm was not even tested on people with other skin colors.”
(Source: CharlieHebdo – La Connerie naturelle de l’Intelligence Artificielle)
Beyond datasets, this also involves taking accessibility into account in the design of applications and services. In particular by setting up a #InclusiveDesign pattern.
“The Inclusive is a design method that considers different deficiencies as a source of inspiration and improvement. […] Inclusive design does not mean making a universal design, but instead learning from various disabilities to improve its interfaces and include as many people as possible. “
“Integrating Inclusive Design is, above all, trying to erase all design biases and being animated by great empathy. It is to consider people as they really are and not as we can know them or imagine them. “
(Source : Qu’est-ce que l’Inclusive Design ? )
For implementation, the book “Inclusive Design Patterns – Coding Accessibility Into Web Design” by Heydon Pickering allows you to practice thinking “inclusive”:
WHY we code is important
As developers, we have the opportunity to bring more equality across the products we create.
“The Pride watch face that arrived in June on the Apple Watch is not available in Russia. Developer Guilherme Rambo discovered that it was explicitly provided in the iOS code that this face would not be displayed if the region configured
(Source: watchgeneration – FR / The Verge – EN)
If you doubt it, you can check it by changing the region of your iPhone for the country in question (Settings> General> Language and region).
Join the Algorythmic Justice League
The Tech Community has adopted many manifests in recent years:
It’s time we adopt the InclusiveCoding Manifesto:
- WHO code is important,
- HOW we code is important
- WHY we code is important.
However, it is necessary to go beyond the declaration of intention, otherwise, we’ll feel ourselves a bit ridiculous.
A bit like … Apple, as we see in the examples that illustrate this article. They are not a model of diversity but want to be seen as they are. #PinkWahing
