Intro: Digital technologies and social inclusion (Research Frontiers)

Summary

Daniel Killet, an assistant professor at the University of Gurg, explores the intricate relationship between technology, inclusion, and exclusion, particularly focusing on gender discrimination in digital technologies. The module delves into how technology has been leveraged by social movements to highlight societal issues while also perpetuating inequality. It aims to foster an understanding of the intersectional nature of exclusion and the ethical implications of digital transformation, providing insights into the history of gendered technology and strategies to mitigate exclusion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daniel Killet is an assistant professor at the University of Gurg, focusing on how software is designed in online communities and the impact of inclusion issues on software development.
• 🌐 The module aims to explore the relationship between inclusion, exclusion, inequality, and computing and information systems, highlighting the strong connection between gender discrimination and digital technologies.
• 📢 Technology has been instrumental in movements like MeToo and Black Lives Matter, helping to bring gender inequality and racism to the forefront and mobilize political action globally.
• 🌍 Movements such as Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, Anonymous, and the Arab Spring have used technology to self-organize and make specific issues of inequality and exclusion visible on a global scale.
• 🚫 Despite their potential for emancipation, digital technologies often fail to deliver, perpetuating gender discrimination and reinforcing existing inequalities.
• 👩‍💻 Women content creators face underrepresentation and abuse on platforms like YouTube, which can make digital spaces unwelcoming and reproduce established forms of inequality.
• 🔍 The lecture will examine how digital technologies are related to inequality, using gender inequality as a primary example, but emphasizing that inequality is intersectional, involving a mix of gender, race, economic, and class issues.
• 🤔 The module encourages a critical examination of the simplistic understanding of the relationship between technology and inclusion, prompting questions about the ethical implications of digital transformation.
• 📚 The intended learning outcomes are to explain the relationship between technology and inclusion/exclusion, the consequences of exclusion, and ways to mitigate or address exclusion.
• 📈 The module is structured into three sections: the history and current state of gendered digital technology, the reasons technologists should care about equality, and strategies to mitigate exclusion.
• 🛠️ Technology and data are not objective or neutral; the kind of technology designed or adopted can have far-reaching consequences for society.

Q & A

Who is Daniel Killet and what is his role at the University of Gurg?

Daniel Killet is an assistant professor at the University of Gurg. He researches how software is designed in online communities and is particularly interested in understanding the impact of inclusion issues on software development.

What is the main focus of the module discussed in the transcript?

The module focuses on the relationship between inclusion, exclusion, and inequality in the context of computing and information systems. It aims to provide an introductory understanding of how gender discrimination and other forms of inequality are related to digital technologies.

How have social movements like Black Lives Matter used technology to address societal issues?

Social movements like Black Lives Matter have extensively used technology to bring structural gender inequality and racism to the limelight, pushing for extensive discussions about social and societal problems and making these issues global.

What is the role of technology in the emergence and visibility of collectives that protest against inequality and exclusion?

Technology has helped these collectives to self-organize and make specific issues of inequality and exclusion visible. It has enabled the movements to become global, connecting people across different geographical locations.

How does technology sometimes fail to deliver on its emancipatory potential?

Despite efforts to increase equality in access and use, technology often perpetuates gender discrimination and can reinforce existing inequalities, such as underrepresentation of women content creators on platforms like YouTube and online abuse.

What is the term used to describe the complex mix of gender, race, economic, and class issues in the context of exclusion and inequality?

The term used is 'intersectionality,' which highlights that exclusion and inequality are not isolated issues but a mix of various social factors.

What are the intended learning outcomes of the module on technology and inclusion?

The intended learning outcomes are to explain how technology and inclusion or exclusion are related, to explain the consequences of exclusion, and to understand two ways to mitigate or address exclusion.

How is the module structured in terms of content?

The module is structured in three sections: the first section discusses the gendered history and current state of digital technology and computing; the second section talks about why technologists should care about equality; and the third section explores strategies to mitigate exclusion.

Why should technologists care about equality in the context of technology and data?

Technologists should care about equality because technology and data are not objective or neutral. The kind of technology they design or adopt can have far-reaching consequences for society, including fellow citizens, colleagues, friends, and employees.

What ethical perspective does the module encourage students to adopt when considering digital transformation?

The module encourages students to question and understand digital transformation from an ethical perspective, specifically considering what kind of society digitalization should create.

What are two strategies mentioned in the module to mitigate exclusion in the context of technology and society?

The module does not specify the two strategies in the provided transcript. However, it suggests that understanding the relationship between technology and inclusion, as well as the consequences of exclusion, will lead to strategies for mitigation.