[Music] you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I distinctly remember the day my dad
I distinctly remember the day my dad
I distinctly remember the day my dad brought home the first iPhone my sister
brought home the first iPhone my sister
brought home the first iPhone my sister and I were sitting at the kitchen
and I were sitting at the kitchen
and I were sitting at the kitchen counter when he came in with a box he
counter when he came in with a box he
counter when he came in with a box he had been talking about this piece of
had been talking about this piece of
had been talking about this piece of technology for weeks but it was finally
technology for weeks but it was finally
technology for weeks but it was finally real we could hardly contain our
real we could hardly contain our
real we could hardly contain our excitement when we opened up the box
excitement when we opened up the box
excitement when we opened up the box to me my 12-year old selves it seemed
to me my 12-year old selves it seemed
to me my 12-year old selves it seemed too good to be true I could call my
too good to be true I could call my
too good to be true I could call my grandma across the country and listen to
grandma across the country and listen to
grandma across the country and listen to Britney Spears all at once but this was
Britney Spears all at once but this was
Britney Spears all at once but this was probably my first memory of being
probably my first memory of being
probably my first memory of being enamored with a piece of technology the
enamored with a piece of technology the
enamored with a piece of technology the iPhone was something revolutionary the I
iPhone was something revolutionary the I
iPhone was something revolutionary the I and iPhone stood for the user it was the
and iPhone stood for the user it was the
and iPhone stood for the user it was the first phone design for you the phone
first phone design for you the phone
first phone design for you the phone completely changed the way that we
completely changed the way that we
completely changed the way that we interact with mobile devices it made it
interact with mobile devices it made it
interact with mobile devices it made it incredibly personal imagine I told you
incredibly personal imagine I told you
incredibly personal imagine I told you to take out your phone unlock it and
to take out your phone unlock it and
to take out your phone unlock it and pass it to the person next to you it
pass it to the person next to you it
pass it to the person next to you it makes me nervous what does that person
makes me nervous what does that person
makes me nervous what does that person now know about you they know who you
now know about you they know who you
now know about you they know who you talk to where you go what you read it
talk to where you go what you read it
talk to where you go what you read it encapsulates your thoughts but
encapsulates your thoughts but
encapsulates your thoughts but technology goes even deeper than this
technology goes even deeper than this
technology goes even deeper than this the technology we create at some level
the technology we create at some level
the technology we create at some level is a representation of ourselves and in
is a representation of ourselves and in
is a representation of ourselves and in turn shapes who we are for this circular
turn shapes who we are for this circular
turn shapes who we are for this circular relationship between the two is
relationship between the two is
relationship between the two is problematic
problematic
problematic because the people who create technology
because the people who create technology
because the people who create technology are not necessarily representative of
are not necessarily representative of
are not necessarily representative of those who use technology Facebook Google
those who use technology Facebook Google
those who use technology Facebook Google snapchat these services are used
snapchat these services are used
snapchat these services are used worldwide but the software was created
worldwide but the software was created
worldwide but the software was created by a homogeneous group of people as a
by a homogeneous group of people as a
by a homogeneous group of people as a result the products I design are are
result the products I design are are
result the products I design are are targeted towards a very specific person
targeted towards a very specific person
targeted towards a very specific person and that may earn they may not be
and that may earn they may not be
and that may earn they may not be representative of who you are
as a student and my you Abu Dhabi I’ve
as a student and my you Abu Dhabi I’ve had the
had the
had the unique opportunity to be able to visit a
unique opportunity to be able to visit a
unique opportunity to be able to visit a variety of countries in the region and
variety of countries in the region and
variety of countries in the region and see how massively global these these
see how massively global these these
see how massively global these these companies have become a few weeks ago I
companies have become a few weeks ago I
companies have become a few weeks ago I was in Mumbai India their small
was in Mumbai India their small
was in Mumbai India their small manufacturers were shipping their
manufacturers were shipping their
manufacturers were shipping their products worldwide with Amazon the city
products worldwide with Amazon the city
products worldwide with Amazon the city was hyper connected with whatsapp
was hyper connected with whatsapp
was hyper connected with whatsapp shop-windows had signed for Wi-Fi as I
shop-windows had signed for Wi-Fi as I
shop-windows had signed for Wi-Fi as I walked down the street there are three
walked down the street there are three
walked down the street there are three girls taking a selfie with their Android
girls taking a selfie with their Android
girls taking a selfie with their Android phone the fact that I’m even pointing
phone the fact that I’m even pointing
phone the fact that I’m even pointing these things out seems strange of course
these things out seems strange of course
these things out seems strange of course there are these things in the city like
there are these things in the city like
there are these things in the city like Mumbai but it’s the fact that we take
Mumbai but it’s the fact that we take
Mumbai but it’s the fact that we take for granted the ubiquity of this
for granted the ubiquity of this
for granted the ubiquity of this technology that I think it deserves a
technology that I think it deserves a
technology that I think it deserves a few minutes of our time think about it a
few minutes of our time think about it a
few minutes of our time think about it a piece of technology built in California
piece of technology built in California
piece of technology built in California halfway around the world from Mumbai is
halfway around the world from Mumbai is
halfway around the world from Mumbai is spread across cultures whether the
spread across cultures whether the
spread across cultures whether the social implications of this it’s easy to
social implications of this it’s easy to
social implications of this it’s easy to think about technology as something
think about technology as something
think about technology as something that’s fact
that’s fact
that’s fact as something that’s objective it’s just
as something that’s objective it’s just
as something that’s objective it’s just a combination of logic and algorithms
a combination of logic and algorithms
a combination of logic and algorithms but in fact there’s it embedded in the
but in fact there’s it embedded in the
but in fact there’s it embedded in the code that we write there are a series of
code that we write there are a series of
code that we write there are a series of assumptions that come from our cultural
assumptions that come from our cultural
assumptions that come from our cultural paradigms to illustrate this I want to
paradigms to illustrate this I want to
paradigms to illustrate this I want to share a story with you about a time when
share a story with you about a time when
share a story with you about a time when technology failed to represent a diverse
technology failed to represent a diverse
technology failed to represent a diverse group of people a few years ago I
group of people a few years ago I
group of people a few years ago I interned with an organization in Jordan
interned with an organization in Jordan
interned with an organization in Jordan that worked with Iraqi and Syrian
that worked with Iraqi and Syrian
that worked with Iraqi and Syrian refugee girls that summer I think I got
refugee girls that summer I think I got
refugee girls that summer I think I got more Facebook friends that I had in my
more Facebook friends that I had in my
more Facebook friends that I had in my entire life the Facebook was engrained
entire life the Facebook was engrained
entire life the Facebook was engrained into the social circles of these girls
into the social circles of these girls
into the social circles of these girls just as much as it wasn’t mine but the
just as much as it wasn’t mine but the
just as much as it wasn’t mine but the way we use Facebook was very different
way we use Facebook was very different
way we use Facebook was very different to me Facebook was a representation of
to me Facebook was a representation of
to me Facebook was a representation of myself my personality I posted pictures
myself my personality I posted pictures
myself my personality I posted pictures of things I like to do and they like
of things I like to do and they like
of things I like to do and they like pages that represented my own beliefs
pages that represented my own beliefs
pages that represented my own beliefs unique personalities in individualism
unique personalities in individualism
unique personalities in individualism was something that was valued from where
was something that was valued from where
was something that was valued from where I was from but to these grows they never
I was from but to these grows they never
I was from but to these grows they never posted photos of themselves on Facebook
posted photos of themselves on Facebook
posted photos of themselves on Facebook and often they didn’t even you
and often they didn’t even you
and often they didn’t even you the real names so them Facebook was
the real names so them Facebook was
the real names so them Facebook was primarily a tool for communication when
primarily a tool for communication when
primarily a tool for communication when I asked them why they didn’t post photos
I asked them why they didn’t post photos
I asked them why they didn’t post photos on Facebook they seemed confused but
on Facebook they seemed confused but
on Facebook they seemed confused but they hinted that it wasn’t really what
they hinted that it wasn’t really what
they hinted that it wasn’t really what their parents wanted I realized that
their parents wanted I realized that
their parents wanted I realized that maybe there was a difference the
maybe there was a difference the
maybe there was a difference the important difference here to me Facebook
important difference here to me Facebook
important difference here to me Facebook was a representation of who I was as an
was a representation of who I was as an
was a representation of who I was as an individual but to them it was a
individual but to them it was a
individual but to them it was a representation of their family of their
representation of their family of their
representation of their family of their family name so how can Facebook design a
family name so how can Facebook design a
family name so how can Facebook design a platform for both of us that bridges
platform for both of us that bridges
platform for both of us that bridges cultural divides we both had to conform
cultural divides we both had to conform
cultural divides we both had to conform to the constraints of Facebook the
to the constraints of Facebook the
to the constraints of Facebook the profile picture and the rules of the
profile picture and the rules of the
profile picture and the rules of the Facebook wall but these design choices
Facebook wall but these design choices
Facebook wall but these design choices in turn shape the way that we interact
in turn shape the way that we interact
in turn shape the way that we interact with others these design choices in turn
with others these design choices in turn
with others these design choices in turn have shapes the way the millennial
have shapes the way the millennial
have shapes the way the millennial generation has become very
generation has become very
generation has become very individualistic despite the fact that
individualistic despite the fact that
individualistic despite the fact that the young Syrian girls and I use
the young Syrian girls and I use
the young Syrian girls and I use Facebook in a very different way it’s
Facebook in a very different way it’s
Facebook in a very different way it’s still shaped us in the same direction we
still shaped us in the same direction we
still shaped us in the same direction we both became more individualistic as a
both became more individualistic as a
both became more individualistic as a result of using this software but what
result of using this software but what
result of using this software but what would the effect have been if the social
would the effect have been if the social
would the effect have been if the social media was centered around the Syrian
media was centered around the Syrian
media was centered around the Syrian girls what if it was sent based on
girls what if it was sent based on
girls what if it was sent based on groups and what defined you was what
groups and what defined you was what
groups and what defined you was what group to are part of instead of your
group to are part of instead of your
group to are part of instead of your individual Facebook page these design
individual Facebook page these design
individual Facebook page these design choices can fundamentally influence the
choices can fundamentally influence the
choices can fundamentally influence the way our social interactions and
way our social interactions and
way our social interactions and ourselves but you may be thinking of
ourselves but you may be thinking of
ourselves but you may be thinking of course the things we create our
course the things we create our
course the things we create our representation of ourselves and of
representation of ourselves and of
representation of ourselves and of course they shape who we are but
course they shape who we are but
course they shape who we are but technologies like Facebook are
technologies like Facebook are
technologies like Facebook are incredibly important because they have
incredibly important because they have
incredibly important because they have the capability to reach 1.8 6 billion
the capability to reach 1.8 6 billion
the capability to reach 1.8 6 billion people at any given moment and they do
people at any given moment and they do
people at any given moment and they do this every day that kind of reach is
this every day that kind of reach is
this every day that kind of reach is something that not many other things
something that not many other things
something that not many other things have and so that’s why it’s so
have and so that’s why it’s so
have and so that’s why it’s so incredibly important that we care about
incredibly important that we care about
incredibly important that we care about diversity specifically
diversity specifically
diversity specifically in technology because technology has
in technology because technology has
in technology because technology has such a vast reach and impact the fact
such a vast reach and impact the fact
such a vast reach and impact the fact that minorities such as women are so
that minorities such as women are so
that minorities such as women are so grossly underrepresented in technology
grossly underrepresented in technology
grossly underrepresented in technology is not just a moral problem or a
is not just a moral problem or a
is not just a moral problem or a humanitarian cause it’s something that
humanitarian cause it’s something that
humanitarian cause it’s something that we need to all care about we all have a
we need to all care about we all have a
we need to all care about we all have a stake in this because the people who
stake in this because the people who
stake in this because the people who create the algorithms that in turn
create the algorithms that in turn
create the algorithms that in turn create these algorithms in turn shape
create these algorithms in turn shape
create these algorithms in turn shape our thoughts and influence our decisions
our thoughts and influence our decisions
our thoughts and influence our decisions the people who create the technology
the people who create the technology
the people who create the technology influence the cultural fundamentals
influence the cultural fundamentals
influence the cultural fundamentals behind the technology and furthermore
behind the technology and furthermore
behind the technology and furthermore creativity the creation of our original
creativity the creation of our original
creativity the creation of our original thought is something diverse minds are
thought is something diverse minds are
thought is something diverse minds are really good at and we can’t afford to
really good at and we can’t afford to
really good at and we can’t afford to lose the potential of these minds so how
lose the potential of these minds so how
lose the potential of these minds so how do we involve more more diversity in
do we involve more more diversity in
do we involve more more diversity in technology this seems like a really
technology this seems like a really
technology this seems like a really broad and complex abstract task but I
broad and complex abstract task but I
broad and complex abstract task but I tried addressing this question last year
tried addressing this question last year
tried addressing this question last year while living in Berlin Germany I started
while living in Berlin Germany I started
while living in Berlin Germany I started I hope to start a program to teach
I hope to start a program to teach
I hope to start a program to teach coding to refugees and women who are new
coding to refugees and women who are new
coding to refugees and women who are new to Berlin the students were from a
to Berlin the students were from a
to Berlin the students were from a variety of backgrounds Khadija was an
variety of backgrounds Khadija was an
variety of backgrounds Khadija was an Iraqi girl who had just arrived to
Iraqi girl who had just arrived to
Iraqi girl who had just arrived to Berlin it was interested in learning to
Berlin it was interested in learning to
Berlin it was interested in learning to code Mohammed was from Syria by had
code Mohammed was from Syria by had
code Mohammed was from Syria by had lived in Dubai and Cairo and sorry in
lived in Dubai and Cairo and sorry in
lived in Dubai and Cairo and sorry in multiple businesses he was interested in
multiple businesses he was interested in
multiple businesses he was interested in how technology could help him achieve
how technology could help him achieve
how technology could help him achieve some of his entrepreneurial goals
some of his entrepreneurial goals
some of his entrepreneurial goals Rami had just graduated and was looking
Rami had just graduated and was looking
Rami had just graduated and was looking to do more fun than software engineering
to do more fun than software engineering
to do more fun than software engineering work nada brought her son Mahmoud to
work nada brought her son Mahmoud to
work nada brought her son Mahmoud to class every single time and fed him
class every single time and fed him
class every single time and fed him cookies to distract them while she wears
cookies to distract them while she wears
cookies to distract them while she wears a code the dedication of the students
a code the dedication of the students
a code the dedication of the students was incredible but how could I keep them
was incredible but how could I keep them
was incredible but how could I keep them inspired I thought back to my own
inspired I thought back to my own
inspired I thought back to my own experiences in the beginning learning
experiences in the beginning learning
experiences in the beginning learning computer science was hard when I first
computer science was hard when I first
computer science was hard when I first started out my freshman year and told
started out my freshman year and told
started out my freshman year and told people guys computer science major
people guys computer science major
people guys computer science major people looked at me and said you don’t
people looked at me and said you don’t
people looked at me and said you don’t look like a computer sciences or when
look like a computer sciences or when
look like a computer sciences or when are you going to change your major so in
are you going to change your major so in
are you going to change your major so in the class I worked hard to overcome the
the class I worked hard to overcome the
the class I worked hard to overcome the stereotype of the nerdy coder who stays
stereotype of the nerdy coder who stays
stereotype of the nerdy coder who stays up all night drinking Red Bull I also
up all night drinking Red Bull I also
up all night drinking Red Bull I also wanted to make the class practical one
wanted to make the class practical one
wanted to make the class practical one of the students came up to me the first
of the students came up to me the first
of the students came up to me the first day of class and said I’m a really
day of class and said I’m a really
day of class and said I’m a really terrible student so this is going to be
terrible student so this is going to be
terrible student so this is going to be pretty hard I was like the class hasn’t
pretty hard I was like the class hasn’t
pretty hard I was like the class hasn’t even started yet but nonetheless it made
even started yet but nonetheless it made
even started yet but nonetheless it made me realize that if I want the class to
me realize that if I want the class to
me realize that if I want the class to be accessible I need to focus on the
be accessible I need to focus on the
be accessible I need to focus on the opportunities and potential of coding
opportunities and potential of coding
opportunities and potential of coding and not just the code itself finally
and not just the code itself finally
and not just the code itself finally another aspect of the class was that I
another aspect of the class was that I
another aspect of the class was that I centered it around projects because if
centered it around projects because if
centered it around projects because if you can get a group of diverse people
you can get a group of diverse people
you can get a group of diverse people creating their own tools it can create
creating their own tools it can create
creating their own tools it can create greater diversity in technology so all
greater diversity in technology so all
greater diversity in technology so all of the students had their own projects
of the students had their own projects
of the students had their own projects they range from one student created Ossa
they range from one student created Ossa
they range from one student created Ossa a website that would guide newcomers to
a website that would guide newcomers to
a website that would guide newcomers to Arab restaurants German classes and
Arab restaurants German classes and
Arab restaurants German classes and government offices another site
government offices another site
government offices another site connected Syrian refugees with Syrian
connected Syrian refugees with Syrian
connected Syrian refugees with Syrian doctors and yet another platform
doctors and yet another platform
doctors and yet another platform provided and offered tours to local
provided and offered tours to local
provided and offered tours to local Berliners who wanted to see the city
Berliners who wanted to see the city
Berliners who wanted to see the city from a refugee perspective these tools
from a refugee perspective these tools
from a refugee perspective these tools were what this what the refugees wanted
were what this what the refugees wanted
were what this what the refugees wanted and needed well of course the
and needed well of course the
and needed well of course the information essentially could be out
information essentially could be out
information essentially could be out there somewhere
there somewhere
there somewhere Yelp could have offered a review for an
Yelp could have offered a review for an
Yelp could have offered a review for an arab restaurant or Google Maps could
arab restaurant or Google Maps could
arab restaurant or Google Maps could have guided you to the German language
have guided you to the German language
have guided you to the German language class but the way but the tools they
class but the way but the tools they
class but the way but the tools they created deliver the information in a
created deliver the information in a
created deliver the information in a manner in medium that reached refugees
manner in medium that reached refugees
manner in medium that reached refugees best as a result the technology
best as a result the technology
best as a result the technology reflected their culture instead of them
reflected their culture instead of them
reflected their culture instead of them having to change for it
as a result seven of the students who
as a result seven of the students who went through the curriculum
went through the curriculum
went through the curriculum are now working in the job leveraging
are now working in the job leveraging
are now working in the job leveraging their technical skills and now every one
their technical skills and now every one
their technical skills and now every one of them has the ability to create
of them has the ability to create
of them has the ability to create technology that reflects their own
technology that reflects their own
technology that reflects their own worldview engaging underrepresented
worldview engaging underrepresented
worldview engaging underrepresented populations in working in pursuing
populations in working in pursuing
populations in working in pursuing careers in code is addressing the
careers in code is addressing the
careers in code is addressing the problem that there’s a growing divide
problem that there’s a growing divide
problem that there’s a growing divide between those who use and those who
between those who use and those who
between those who use and those who create technology but this is just one
create technology but this is just one
create technology but this is just one way and this is just how I did it so how
way and this is just how I did it so how
way and this is just how I did it so how are you going to inspire those around
are you going to inspire those around
are you going to inspire those around you to do the same think about it we
you to do the same think about it we
you to do the same think about it we have like it’s something that all of us
have like it’s something that all of us
have like it’s something that all of us care about creating a group more diverse
care about creating a group more diverse
care about creating a group more diverse and open community is going to be what
and open community is going to be what
and open community is going to be what shapes the digital world of tomorrow
shapes the digital world of tomorrow
shapes the digital world of tomorrow thank
thank
thank [Applause]
”
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