Bias

Bias in design is in fact, a good thing. A lack of uniformity can confuse users when it comes to color, shapes, icons and functionality. Here are a few examples of why this is important.

Municipal Bias Example

Municipal communication differs from country to country, usually as the result of cultural or translational differences. Up until 1954, stop signs were yellow due to the lack of red dye that wouldn’t fade in the sun. A yellow stop sign conflicts with the meaning of a red traffic light. https://www.rd.com/article/yellow-stop-signs/ . It is folly to assume that every government should have a formal municipal sign agreement. Lack of visual uniformity results in challenges for AI learning prompts, automated driving, foreign drivers, pedestrians and engineers. This same logic and bias can be applied to digital products. Below are examples of several varying stop signs from around the world. Although usually red and octagonal, their shapes and color vary per country. This difference effects cognition and ultimately, reaction time for people or machines.

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Obsolete Bias Example

Things that are dated but still communicate suffer from obsolete bias. Using a phone icon as an example, it is important to consider demographics. The traditional phone icon (seen below) is an older 1970’s style phone handle and receiver. This phone design is no longer used but it still communicates. The current phone design is predominantly a smartphone. It is up to the designer to determine whether they want to proceed with a smartphone or a phone handle. Context is important. A smartphone is just a rectangle, but makes for a poor icon as it can mean multiple things. This is judgement call for the designer based on their demographic. For example, a website for seniors should probably use a phone handle icon but a tech company should use a smart phone icon to show relevance.

Other dated visual icons include:

• Men and Women’s bathroom icons

• Computer monitors

• Computer Disks

• Cassettes for music

Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Design

Artificial Intelligence will have significant impacts for impaired users and inclusive design. Technologist Jaron Lanier predicts browser architecture could accommodate an impaired user on the fly. Custom configuration of a site for any user could alter browser architecture as we know it. Jaron states, “We’ve all endured the agony of watching some poor soul at a doctor’s office struggle to do the expected thing on a front-desk screen. The face contorts; humanity is undermined. The need to conform to digital designs has created an ambient expectation of human subservience.” Lanier, Jaron. “There is no AI.” New Yorker 20 April, 2023, www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/there-is-no-ai

These frustrating, “pre user experience” A.I. days could and should be behind us in a matter of years regardless of one’s disability or innate preferences. However, AI could exclude inclusive design as it generates copywriting, websites and other digital media unless given assertive prompts. In it’s defense, it will require considerable user prompts and massive quantities of data to generate inclusive media that still looks good. We are aware of A.I's racial disparity, but less aware of it's inclusive disparity. Perhaps it can produce more universal products and language with time and examples. Please consider inclusive prompts for A.I. where applicable. For example, one should consider reading levels for copywriting. We will need to test what the best prompts are for the best results, but that is currently beyond the scope of the site.