We Have the Power

So you can sleep at night  Ethics in IT Jonathan
Rothwell @jorodev (he/him) © Zuhlke Engineering Ltd. 2019

Jonathan Rothwell @jorodev (he/him) © Zuhlke Engineering Ltd. 2019

Image: Devoxx London

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 3dman_eu / pixabay.com

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “What can we do?”

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 It depends.

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “I’m just an engineer,” he said.

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 No software exists in a vacuum.
Software has context.

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 Our society and ways of life
are being re-shaped around software.

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 At this moment in history,  as
engineers, we are in a unique position to shape the world.

We have the power ⚡ Jonathan Rothwell @jorodev (he/him) ©
Zuhlke Engineering Ltd. 2019

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 power n. /ˈpaʊǝ/ 1. The ability
or capacity to do something or act in a particular way. 2. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events. Source: Oxford English Dictionary

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 Photo © European Parliament

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “No-one is too small to make
a difference.” —Greta Thunberg Photo © Anders Hellberg / Wikipedia

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 How can we make a difference?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 1. look at what power we
have 2. look at how to use it

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 What power do we have as
software developers?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 We’re the ones who  write the
code!

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 We’re the ones who  write the
code! (and not everyone knows how to do it)

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 How can we use our power
as  software developers  for good?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “the ALGORITHM”

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 algorithm  n. a process or set
of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “the ALGORITHM” NEUTRAL or Not Neutral
?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR VALIDATING NAME INPUT IF
name longer than 20 characters THEN name is not valid ELSE name is valid

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR VALIDATING NAME INPUT IF
name longer than 20 characters THEN name is not valid ELSE name is valid NEUTRAL or Not Neutral ?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR DETECTING FACES AT PASSPORT
GATES IF camera detects a beige/brown oval // maybe a face? THEN compare fleshy oval vs.  passport biometrics

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR DETECTING FACES AT PASSPORT
GATES IF camera detects a beige/brown oval // maybe a face? THEN compare fleshy oval vs.  passport biometrics NEUTRAL or Not Neutral ?

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 Photo credit: Emma Obanye @eobanye

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR DETERMINING IF A WOMAN
IS A WITCH Dunk woman into a lake IF woman survives THEN declare her a witch AND execute her by hanging

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 ALGORITHM FOR DETERMINING IF A WOMAN
IS A WITCH Dunk woman into a lake IF woman survives THEN declare her a witch AND execute her by hanging NEUTRAL or Not Neutral ?

Gitte Klitgaard Psychological Safety - Overprotection or Not? https://skillsmatter.com/skillscasts/13481-psychological-safety-overprotection-or-not

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 power dynamics

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 “We have an office in Dubai
with a number of interesting projects. Would you be interested in working there for up to two years?”

with a number of interesting projects. Would you be interested in working there for up to two years?”

with a number of interesting projects. Would you be interested in working there for up to two years?” “I don’t think so. As an LGBT person I wouldn’t be comfortable working in countries that criminalise people like me.”

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 privilege

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 After Barres gave a talk as
Ben, he heard an audience member remark, “Ben Barres gave a great seminar today, but then his work is much better than his sister’s.”

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 We could all do with examining
how the system unfairly benefits us personally. -Reni Eddo-Lodge Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 hire a diverse team AND  foster
an inclusive environment By UKBlackTech - https://ukblacktech.com/stockphotos/

an inclusive environment AND  check your privilege By UKBlackTech - https://ukblacktech.com/stockphotos/

an inclusive environment AND  check your privilege AND  use it to elevate marginalised voices By UKBlackTech - https://ukblacktech.com/stockphotos/

Stella Windsor Why Ethics Matter And What we Forget About
Our Past https://skillsmatter.com/skillscasts/13480-why-ethics-matter-and-what-we-forget-about-our-past

Sapphire Mason-Brown Just Add Diversity - Why a Diverse Tech
Industry Isn't Enough https://skillsmatter.com/skillscasts/13496-just-add-diversity-why-a-a-diverse-tech-industry-isn-t-enough#video

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 We have the power to  deliver
software that isn’t broken  by taking the time to build it and test it properly,  and being realistic about its limits

@jorodev © Zuhlke 2019 We have the power to  make
our industry more inclusive  by educating ourselves about our privilege and biases,  and using our privilege to help bring marginalised people to the table

Button

Button *must be running a supported operating system (supported versions 
of iOS or Android)

of iOS or Android) MESSAGE: RING BELL

of iOS or Android) **assuming mobile phone has battery charged, is switched on, has the bell app running, and is still paired by Bluetooth with the button which must be within Bluetooth range of the phone MESSAGE: RING BELL

of iOS or Android) **assuming mobile phone has battery charged, is switched on, has the bell app running, and is still paired by Bluetooth with the button which must be within Bluetooth range of the phone MESSAGE: RING BELL “the simple bike bell”

image: SpectreVision Mgmt

We Have The Power written and presented by Jonathan Rothwell
@jorodev With thanks to: Dr Sal Freudenburg, Emma Obanye, Katherine Kirk, Kate Gray, Sebastiaan Peters, James Thomson, Ruth Yakubu, J. Rosenbaum, Dan Hon, Ivan Moore, Asad Razvi, Adrian Kosmaczewski, Paul Hudson, Gitte Klitgaard, and friends and colleagues at Zuhlke for their help and encouragement © Zuhlke Engineering Ltd. 2017-2019 Thanks ✨

We Have the Power

We Have the Power

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