Tackling Discrimination in Tech: The Anti-Bias Cards (ABC) in Use

Abstract

How to engage with the consequences of systemic biases and subsequent calls to ensure more equity in technologically oriented teams without any prior education on these matters presents an open question within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Based on a previous literature study and the development of the Anti-Bias Card Deck (ABC), this paper presents the findings and insights from various workshops in which the cards were applied. The settings varied in their thematic and geographic contexts as well as with regard to participants and their backgrounds. Overall, participants agreed that the card deck could be of help to detect and tackle different aspects of discrimination over a project's life cycle. Hence, the ABC deck fulfilled its intended role as a potential conversation starter for reflecting on matters of bias and equity in teams of technology developers without prior expertise.