Press "Enter" to skip to content

The power of diversity in technology | Tina Morad | TEDxKTH


I’d like to start with one image and you

I’d like to start with one image and you guys have to help me out a bit what are

guys have to help me out a bit what are

guys have to help me out a bit what are the common or what is the common factor

the common or what is the common factor

the common or what is the common factor in this image can anyone tell me I can’t

in this image can anyone tell me I can’t

in this image can anyone tell me I can’t see anyone so shout it out humans people

see anyone so shout it out humans people

see anyone so shout it out humans people true but the common factor in this image

true but the common factor in this image

true but the common factor in this image is that they all share one thing more

is that they all share one thing more

is that they all share one thing more prominently than anything else and that

prominently than anything else and that

prominently than anything else and that is their passion for technology I wanted

is their passion for technology I wanted

is their passion for technology I wanted to showcase the many faces that we have

to showcase the many faces that we have

to showcase the many faces that we have around the globe some of these faces

around the globe some of these faces

around the globe some of these faces have actually paved the way for

have actually paved the way for

have actually paved the way for technology to blossom in their

technology to blossom in their

technology to blossom in their communities others have actually

communities others have actually

communities others have actually revolutionized it we usually have

revolutionized it we usually have

revolutionized it we usually have prejudices and perceptions in which we

prejudices and perceptions in which we

prejudices and perceptions in which we actually preference a certain gender or

actually preference a certain gender or

actually preference a certain gender or race and this is what I would like to

race and this is what I would like to

race and this is what I would like to talk about I’d like to talk about

talk about I’d like to talk about

talk about I’d like to talk about inclusion and diversity around the globe

first Who am I accept this beautiful

first Who am I accept this beautiful introduction that I won an award I

introduction that I won an award I

introduction that I won an award I decided to create with some other of my

decided to create with some other of my

decided to create with some other of my colleagues a foundation to help refugees

colleagues a foundation to help refugees

colleagues a foundation to help refugees but I actually have a story that has

but I actually have a story that has

but I actually have a story that has shaped my present and also shapes my

shaped my present and also shapes my

shaped my present and also shapes my future and it has to do with the way I

future and it has to do with the way I

future and it has to do with the way I was born I was born as a refugee as a

was born I was born as a refugee as a

was born I was born as a refugee as a Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I

Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I

Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I finally landed in Sweden there’s a long

finally landed in Sweden there’s a long

finally landed in Sweden there’s a long road when I came to Sweden a few years

road when I came to Sweden a few years

road when I came to Sweden a few years later I reached my teenage years and my

later I reached my teenage years and my

later I reached my teenage years and my passion for computer science woke up I

passion for computer science woke up I

passion for computer science woke up I thought I’d conquer it and I started a

thought I’d conquer it and I started a

thought I’d conquer it and I started a course I pretty much sucked at it

course I pretty much sucked at it

course I pretty much sucked at it and then I decided that I don’t think

and then I decided that I don’t think

and then I decided that I don’t think this is really my thing

this is really my thing

this is really my thing so I moved on fast forward a few years

so I moved on fast forward a few years

so I moved on fast forward a few years Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if

Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if

Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if you guys remember that movie that was

you guys remember that movie that was

you guys remember that movie that was the best movie ever and I walked out of

the best movie ever and I walked out of

the best movie ever and I walked out of there thinking I’m gonna do that that

there thinking I’m gonna do that that

there thinking I’m gonna do that that special effect I’m gonna do that and I

special effect I’m gonna do that and I

special effect I’m gonna do that and I started to studying graphic design and

started to studying graphic design and

started to studying graphic design and special effects the whole purpose of

special effects the whole purpose of

special effects the whole purpose of that course was to learn how to do a

that course was to learn how to do a

that course was to learn how to do a laser sword online really didn’t go very

laser sword online really didn’t go very

laser sword online really didn’t go very well there either so fast forward

well there either so fast forward

well there either so fast forward graduated I left the country I ended up

graduated I left the country I ended up

graduated I left the country I ended up in the MENA region Middle East

in the MENA region Middle East

in the MENA region Middle East I spent approximately roughly around ten

I spent approximately roughly around ten

I spent approximately roughly around ten years traveling around the world ending

years traveling around the world ending

years traveling around the world ending up mostly in honeymoon destinations of

up mostly in honeymoon destinations of

up mostly in honeymoon destinations of conflict zones and that was also to find

conflict zones and that was also to find

conflict zones and that was also to find myself find my history and understand

myself find my history and understand

myself find my history and understand what’s happening in that region why did

what’s happening in that region why did

what’s happening in that region why did we leave it in the first place I found a

we leave it in the first place I found a

we leave it in the first place I found a lot of things among them was to

lot of things among them was to

lot of things among them was to understand inequality inequalities are

understand inequality inequalities are

understand inequality inequalities are one of the driving forces in insecurity

one of the driving forces in insecurity

one of the driving forces in insecurity around the globe it also shapes

around the globe it also shapes

around the globe it also shapes prejudices and perceptions of other

prejudices and perceptions of other

prejudices and perceptions of other countries outside our sphere so I’d like

countries outside our sphere so I’d like

countries outside our sphere so I’d like to take up a few of these examples of

to take up a few of these examples of

to take up a few of these examples of what countries that we perceive look

what countries that we perceive look

what countries that we perceive look like and what realities they have to

like and what realities they have to

like and what realities they have to start off with decided to land in Africa

start off with decided to land in Africa

start off with decided to land in Africa and choose Kenya as much as the first

and choose Kenya as much as the first

and choose Kenya as much as the first image shows a country that is tarnished

image shows a country that is tarnished

image shows a country that is tarnished by poverty and under development it

by poverty and under development it

by poverty and under development it actually also has a ravishing

actually also has a ravishing

actually also has a ravishing development it is one of the fastest

development it is one of the fastest

development it is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and it’s

growing economies in Africa and it’s

growing economies in Africa and it’s rapidly growing in terms of business and

rapidly growing in terms of business and

rapidly growing in terms of business and tech another example of areas where we

tech another example of areas where we

tech another example of areas where we know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia

know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia

know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia history tells us it has been tarnished

history tells us it has been tarnished

history tells us it has been tarnished by Civil War

by Civil War

by Civil War ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an

ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an

ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an agriculture

agriculture

agriculture that is commonly known for

that is commonly known for

that is commonly known for underdeveloped countries but there’s

underdeveloped countries but there’s

underdeveloped countries but there’s also another reality to it

also another reality to it

also another reality to it and that is the reality of being one of

and that is the reality of being one of

and that is the reality of being one of the largest growing tech hubs in the

the largest growing tech hubs in the

the largest growing tech hubs in the world for startups it has a stronger

world for startups it has a stronger

world for startups it has a stronger economy than it had 20 years ago and it

economy than it had 20 years ago and it

economy than it had 20 years ago and it keeps rising

keeps rising

keeps rising the third example we move on to a Middle

the third example we move on to a Middle

the third example we move on to a Middle East Iran one of the u.s. favorite

East Iran one of the u.s. favorite

East Iran one of the u.s. favorite subjects and Israel’s as well we usually

subjects and Israel’s as well we usually

subjects and Israel’s as well we usually see less and less about the countries

see less and less about the countries

see less and less about the countries boom but we hear more and more about the

boom but we hear more and more about the

boom but we hear more and more about the under development areas of it while it

under development areas of it while it

under development areas of it while it has that reality it also has another

has that reality it also has another

has that reality it also has another reality it is one of the most intense

reality it is one of the most intense

reality it is one of the most intense research countries in the world with

research countries in the world with

research countries in the world with science being one of the primary goals

science being one of the primary goals

science being one of the primary goals in addition to that it has a growing and

in addition to that it has a growing and

in addition to that it has a growing and a very strong export industry of

a very strong export industry of

a very strong export industry of commodities so why am i bringing these

commodities so why am i bringing these

commodities so why am i bringing these examples up of countries to address

examples up of countries to address

examples up of countries to address perceptions we always believe that we

perceptions we always believe that we

perceptions we always believe that we know that innovation technology

know that innovation technology

know that innovation technology education grows the best in developed

education grows the best in developed

education grows the best in developed areas but we underestimate the

areas but we underestimate the

areas but we underestimate the developing country strengths and

developing country strengths and

developing country strengths and experiences therefore I’d like to take

experiences therefore I’d like to take

experiences therefore I’d like to take three examples of countries in those

three examples of countries in those

three examples of countries in those regions in which local initiatives and

regions in which local initiatives and

regions in which local initiatives and local needs and problems and challenges

local needs and problems and challenges

local needs and problems and challenges have been addressed in a very

have been addressed in a very

have been addressed in a very interesting way allow me to introduce to

interesting way allow me to introduce to

interesting way allow me to introduce to you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a

you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a

you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a challenge after the Ebola virus in which

challenge after the Ebola virus in which

challenge after the Ebola virus in which lack of access to health care and

lack of access to health care and

lack of access to health care and information to recognize symptoms caused

information to recognize symptoms caused

information to recognize symptoms caused a lot of loss of lives this led to a

a lot of loss of lives this led to a

a lot of loss of lives this led to a crew of people who decided to do

crew of people who decided to do

crew of people who decided to do something about it find an alternative

something about it find an alternative

something about it find an alternative way there is a challenge with

way there is a challenge with

way there is a challenge with stigmatization of STDs in Africa

stigmatization of STDs in Africa

stigmatization of STDs in Africa specifically in Ghana in which fear of

specifically in Ghana in which fear of

specifically in Ghana in which fear of coming out and

coming out and

coming out and asking for help makes a lot of people to

asking for help makes a lot of people to

asking for help makes a lot of people to stay at home in addition to poverty

stay at home in addition to poverty

stay at home in addition to poverty which makes them not being able to

which makes them not being able to

which makes them not being able to access health care the solution one of

access health care the solution one of

access health care the solution one of them was to create an anonymous way of

them was to create an anonymous way of

them was to create an anonymous way of avoiding also taking the step to a

avoiding also taking the step to a

avoiding also taking the step to a doctor by using mobile technology a very

doctor by using mobile technology a very

doctor by using mobile technology a very interesting guy by the name of Randolph

interesting guy by the name of Randolph

interesting guy by the name of Randolph came up with an app called bisa it’s the

came up with an app called bisa it’s the

came up with an app called bisa it’s the it’s the the name of basically

it’s the the name of basically

it’s the the name of basically definition of it is called asked by

definition of it is called asked by

definition of it is called asked by developing this app he also saw another

developing this app he also saw another

developing this app he also saw another challenge he created a small team of

challenge he created a small team of

challenge he created a small team of innovative students and used basically

innovative students and used basically

innovative students and used basically an entrepreneurial step spirit in order

an entrepreneurial step spirit in order

an entrepreneurial step spirit in order to create an app that is accessible to

to create an app that is accessible to

to create an app that is accessible to everyone in Ghana and also neighboring

everyone in Ghana and also neighboring

everyone in Ghana and also neighboring countries where they can actually have

countries where they can actually have

countries where they can actually have direct contact with a medical

direct contact with a medical

direct contact with a medical practitioner to address their symptoms

practitioner to address their symptoms

practitioner to address their symptoms and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going

and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going

and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big

over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big

over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big problem and a challenge of browning over

problem and a challenge of browning over

problem and a challenge of browning over 20,000 people every year drown due to

20,000 people every year drown due to

20,000 people every year drown due to lack of swimming fifty children every

lack of swimming fifty children every

lack of swimming fifty children every day drown because they cannot swim local

day drown because they cannot swim local

day drown because they cannot swim local NGOs tried their best by teaching out

NGOs tried their best by teaching out

NGOs tried their best by teaching out how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of

how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of

how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of five innovative students came up with

five innovative students came up with

five innovative students came up with another concept if we can’t teach them

another concept if we can’t teach them

another concept if we can’t teach them to swim let us at least equip them and

to swim let us at least equip them and

to swim let us at least equip them and they came up with a very very simple

they came up with a very very simple

they came up with a very very simple innovative solution simple wristband a

innovative solution simple wristband a

innovative solution simple wristband a balloon and a great thinking the third

balloon and a great thinking the third

balloon and a great thinking the third project came out of Jordan the refugee

project came out of Jordan the refugee

project came out of Jordan the refugee crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims

crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims

crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims lost their limbs had limited or

lost their limbs had limited or

lost their limbs had limited or basically zero access to health care and

basically zero access to health care and

basically zero access to health care and prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the

prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the

prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the cost and the distance to healthcare

cost and the distance to healthcare

cost and the distance to healthcare facilities

facilities

facilities a guy called awesome husna was a former

a guy called awesome husna was a former

a guy called awesome husna was a former paramedic volunteer they decided to help

paramedic volunteer they decided to help

paramedic volunteer they decided to help his fellow citizens but lost his leg

his fellow citizens but lost his leg

his fellow citizens but lost his leg along the way he ended up in Jordan met

along the way he ended up in Jordan met

along the way he ended up in Jordan met a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter

a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter

a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter project and collaborated with them on

project and collaborated with them on

project and collaborated with them on how to solve this problem the cost of

how to solve this problem the cost of

how to solve this problem the cost of one piece of the the prosthetics usually

one piece of the the prosthetics usually

one piece of the the prosthetics usually lies around $35 they managed to reduce

lies around $35 they managed to reduce

lies around $35 they managed to reduce it with a 3d technology for $1 so they

it with a 3d technology for $1 so they

it with a 3d technology for $1 so they solved affordable solutions with very

solved affordable solutions with very

solved affordable solutions with very fast learning curve

fast learning curve

fast learning curve he actually programmed his own leg

he actually programmed his own leg

he actually programmed his own leg within three days of ending up there and

within three days of ending up there and

within three days of ending up there and started spreading the word spreading the

started spreading the word spreading the

started spreading the word spreading the knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now

knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now

knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now having a good life teaching out and

having a good life teaching out and

having a good life teaching out and actually also then attended a TEDx talk

so why am I talking about these projects

so why am I talking about these projects and trying to highlight the need of

and trying to highlight the need of

and trying to highlight the need of seeing the diversity out there

seeing the diversity out there

seeing the diversity out there the innovative thinking it’s because in

the innovative thinking it’s because in

the innovative thinking it’s because in some of these countries with all the

some of these countries with all the

some of these countries with all the limitations and all the restrictions and

limitations and all the restrictions and

limitations and all the restrictions and all the lack of resources there’s an

all the lack of resources there’s an

all the lack of resources there’s an incredible willpower and there is an

incredible willpower and there is an

incredible willpower and there is an incredible drive to create something to

incredible drive to create something to

incredible drive to create something to solve local problems what I’m trying to

solve local problems what I’m trying to

solve local problems what I’m trying to do is not only show the diversity but it

do is not only show the diversity but it

do is not only show the diversity but it also brings us back to why I ended up

also brings us back to why I ended up

also brings us back to why I ended up here today a year ago exactly I was part

here today a year ago exactly I was part

here today a year ago exactly I was part of a large team that helped thousands of

of a large team that helped thousands of

of a large team that helped thousands of thousands of thousands of refugees

thousands of thousands of refugees

thousands of thousands of refugees within my own team the volunteer crew we

within my own team the volunteer crew we

within my own team the volunteer crew we had diversity we used each and every

had diversity we used each and every

had diversity we used each and every single person’s competence they were

single person’s competence they were

single person’s competence they were refugees themselves there were Swedish

refugees themselves there were Swedish

refugees themselves there were Swedish citizens and they came from all walks of

citizens and they came from all walks of

citizens and they came from all walks of life but we also noticed one thing how

life but we also noticed one thing how

life but we also noticed one thing how technology became a survival tool it

technology became a survival tool it

technology became a survival tool it helped them to find their way to avoid

helped them to find their way to avoid

helped them to find their way to avoid the gates to avoid the border controls

the gates to avoid the border controls

the gates to avoid the border controls and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary

and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary

and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary this goes back to

this goes back to

this goes back to the next subject the world as we see it

the next subject the world as we see it

the next subject the world as we see it is not fair and it’s not really just and

is not fair and it’s not really just and

is not fair and it’s not really just and it’s definitely not equal we are bound

it’s definitely not equal we are bound

it’s definitely not equal we are bound by geographical borders that are not

by geographical borders that are not

by geographical borders that are not natural

natural

natural we’re also seeing that some passports

we’re also seeing that some passports

we’re also seeing that some passports are more valued than other passports

are more valued than other passports

are more valued than other passports some races are more privileged than

some races are more privileged than

some races are more privileged than others when you look at the internet you

others when you look at the internet you

others when you look at the internet you don’t see any geographical borders you

don’t see any geographical borders you

don’t see any geographical borders you see a lot of potential this is the

see a lot of potential this is the

see a lot of potential this is the potential I would like to hire highlight

potential I would like to hire highlight

potential I would like to hire highlight if you have all these opportunities and

if you have all these opportunities and

if you have all these opportunities and technology is unlimited my interest in

technology is unlimited my interest in

technology is unlimited my interest in seeing the technology being used to way

seeing the technology being used to way

seeing the technology being used to way exchange of ideas exchange of

exchange of ideas exchange of

exchange of ideas exchange of experiences and exchange of

experiences and exchange of

experiences and exchange of collaboration it doesn’t take much to

collaboration it doesn’t take much to

collaboration it doesn’t take much to take that one step forward and try to

take that one step forward and try to

take that one step forward and try to explore the opportunities out there you

explore the opportunities out there you

explore the opportunities out there you have no borders and you have no limits

have no borders and you have no limits

have no borders and you have no limits so I’d like to leave you with a few

so I’d like to leave you with a few

so I’d like to leave you with a few closing words from a favorite quote by

closing words from a favorite quote by

closing words from a favorite quote by dr. Martin Luther King you all know this

dr. Martin Luther King you all know this

dr. Martin Luther King you all know this one I have a dream I’d like to go take

one I have a dream I’d like to go take

one I have a dream I’d like to go take it a bit further and say I might be able

it a bit further and say I might be able

it a bit further and say I might be able to do it but together we can get one

to do it but together we can get one

to do it but together we can get one step closer and making it thank you for

step closer and making it thank you for

step closer and making it thank you for me

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *