News+Stories: Why is the link between research on gender and technology necessary?
Corinna Bath: It’s a mistake to assume that in such an objective research area it’s not about people. Technological artefacts are always developed and used in the world outside by people. It’s important to take a look whether for certain groups – it doesn’t matter whether they’re defined by gender or another category – the use of an artefact is made difficult or doesn’t make sense. You have to take counter measures for this, and include the actual users, their needs and requirements in the development process as early as possible.
How does “gender” influence research?
Corinna Bath: There are two primary ways how artefacts are “gendered”. On the one hand, it is assumed that an artefact is developed neutrally for everyone. But in the 1990s, language recognition systems were being developed and were tested only with male voices; the system could not even recognise female voices. Or seat belts in cars, which were not designed for the needs of, for instance, pregnant women. On the other hand, a wrong development occurs when one thinks in terms of stereotypes. The car marque Dodge, for instance, brought out a model called “La Femme” onto the market in the 1950s with a special design and a “typically feminine” colouring – it flopped almost immediately. It is often insinuated that a specific group has a particular technological incompetence, which makes their use of specific artefacts incredibly difficult.
But doesn’t including aspects of diversity make research considerably more complicated?
Corinna Bath: Yes of course. But development of technology is already a complex thing in itself, so why shouldn’t we take on this new challenge? On top of this, the topics of gender and diversity are becoming increasingly important in funding applications.
What exactly are you going to do in Graz? What are your aims?
Corinna Bath: As a visiting professor, I see my task primarily as being open for all issues concerning gender and technology in research and teaching. So I’m happy to be available for enquiries from students, researchers and teaching staff. I’m definitely involved in the HumanEVoice project at the Institute of Signal Processing and Speech Communication and I’ll be teaching two courses.
