Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana and Bixby–almost all virtual assistants have something in common. Their default voices are women’s, though the role that plays in reinforcing gender stereotypes has been long documented, even inspiring the dystopian romance “Her.” Virtue, the creative agency owned by publisher Vice, wants to challenge the trend with a genderless voice […]
View More Creative agency Virtue introduces genderless voice Q to challenge biases in technologyCategory: inclusion
Meet GV investors at the TechCrunch Include March Office Hours
GV (formerly Google Ventures) is partnering with TechCrunch Include to host Office Hours for underserved and underrepresented founders on March 5th. From 10:30am-12:30pm, GV investors Dave Munichiello, Graham Spencer, Laura Melahn, Brian Bendett and Barkha Gvalani will meet for one-on-one sessions with founders. Apply here. In 2014, TechCrunch launched the Include program which facilitates opportunities […]
View More Meet GV investors at the TechCrunch Include March Office HoursAs Taiwan prepares to vote on LGBTQ issues, a homophobic group is running ads before kids videos on YouTube
This Saturday, several issues related to LGBTQ equality, including marriage, are up for referendum in Taiwan’s mid-term elections. A little more than a year after the country’s top court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, the LGBTQ community is once again fighting for their rights due to efforts by anti-gay groups. The battle has reached […]
View More As Taiwan prepares to vote on LGBTQ issues, a homophobic group is running ads before kids videos on YouTubeSquare details compensation and promotion practices
When tech companies explore diversity and inclusion initiatives, there’s a risk that marginalized groups may feel “othered” and reduced to a number. That’s what Square has found, the company revealed in the first of a series of posts on Square’s diversity and inclusion efforts. So instead of emphasizing demographic data, Square is taking a new approach that […]
View More Square details compensation and promotion practicesGoogle launches voice assistant app to help people with limited mobility use their phones
Google just introduced a new Android app to better enable people with limited mobility to use their phones. Called Voice Access, the app offers people a hands-free way to use apps, write and edit text and, of course, talk to the Google Assistant. It’s designed to make it easier to control specific functions like clicking […]
View More Google launches voice assistant app to help people with limited mobility use their phonesTwitch hires head of diversity and inclusion
Twitch, the Amazon-owned streaming platform, has brought on its first head of diversity and inclusion, as well as a new chief financial officer and chief human resources officer. Katrina Jones, who will start next month as Twitch’s head of diversity and inclusion, is the former head of diversity at Vimeo. At Vimeo, Jones created the […]
View More Twitch hires head of diversity and inclusionThe Xbox Adaptive Controller goes on sale today and is also now part of the V&A museum’s collection
In an important move for inclusion in the gaming community, the Xbox Adaptive Controller, created for gamers with mobility issues, is now on sale. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) also announced today that it has acquired the Xbox Adaptive Controller for display in its Rapid Response gallery dedicated to current events and pop culture. […]
View More The Xbox Adaptive Controller goes on sale today and is also now part of the V&A museum’s collectionHow Silicon Valley should celebrate Labor Day
Ask any 25-year old engineer what Labor Day means to him or her, and you might get an answer like: it’s the surprise three-day weekend after a summer of vacationing. Or it’s the day everyone barbecues at Dolores Park. Or it’s the annual Tahoe trip where everyone gets to relive college. Or simply, it’s the […]
View More How Silicon Valley should celebrate Labor DayThis musician created an immersive live event series to promote inclusivity
Artist ‘Ariana and the Rose’ is integrating art and technology through her inclusive event series ‘Light + Space’, which take place at New York’s mythical House of YesThe immersive disco party culminates in a performance by ‘Ariana and the Rose’, who…
View More This musician created an immersive live event series to promote inclusivitySnap CEO Evan Spiegel says letter about ‘toxic’ culture was a wake-up call
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel spoke a bit about some of the cultural issues at the company, going public and competition with Facebook at Recode’s annual Code Conference this evening in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Earlier today, Cheddar reported how a former Snap engineer criticized the company for a “toxic” and “sexist” culture that is not […]
View More Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says letter about ‘toxic’ culture was a wake-up callTommy Hilfiger unveils innovative clothing line for people with disabilities
Tommy Hilfiger is expanding its innovative disability-friendly clothing initiative by unveiling Tommy Adaptive, a new line that includes a variety of new and stylish pieces.
In 2016, Tommy Hilfiger partnered with Runway of Dreams, a nonprofit founded…
Greenhouse Inclusion aims to reduce bias in the hiring process
Unconscious and implicit biases can show up every step of the hiring the process. That’s why Greenhouse, a recruiting and applicant tracking program, has partnered with diversity and inclusion consulting firm Paradigm to bake in inclusive hiring practices throughout the entire process. Greenhouse Inclusion is designed to help companies employ inclusive hiring practices throughout a […]
View More Greenhouse Inclusion aims to reduce bias in the hiring process