DDQ WED 2023-01-18
5. Physical Variations & Bias¶
5.1. Agenda¶
Released |
Category |
Assignment |
Day |
Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-01-10 |
Term Project |
FRI |
2023-01-20 |
|
2023-01-19 |
Paper Pres. |
THU |
2023-01-26 |
|
2023-01-19 |
Term Project |
Milestone 1: Problem Proposal (Part 1) |
FRI |
2023-01-27 |
2023-01-19 |
Paper Pres. |
THU |
2023-02-09 |
|
2023-01-19 |
Term Project |
Milestone 1: Problem Proposal (Part 2) |
FRI |
2023-02-10 |
2023-02-07 |
Exams |
FRI |
2023-02-10 |
|
2023-02-07 |
Exams |
TUE |
2023-02-14 |
|
2023-02-16 |
Term Project |
FRI |
2023-03-17 |
|
2023-03-20 |
Term Project |
FRI |
2023-04-14 |
|
2023-03-28 |
Exams |
FRI |
2023-04-21 |
|
2023-03-28 |
Exams |
THU |
2023-04-27 |
|
2023-03-28 |
Term Project |
TUE |
2023-05-09 |
General Announcements
Activity
5.2. Activity¶
5.2.1. Introduction¶
- anthropometry¶
The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.
The Handbook of Anthropometry includes several peer-reviewed research articles related to human dimensions. For example, John T. Manning’s chapter “Sex Differences and Age Changes in Digit Ratios” presents some interesting findings related to human digit ratios, specifically: how they differ by sex; and how some ratios might be linked to different diseases and disorders.
- digit ratio¶
Often taken to mean the ratio of the lengths of the second and fourth digits (2D:4D).
Fig. 5.1 Fig. 48.2: The relationship between 4D length and mean 2D:4D. The sample consisted of 344 males and 404 females. Note that 2D:4D showed no sex difference at the value of 4D where male and female regression lines for 2D on 4D intersect (in this case at 78.47 mm). Below this value of 4D, females had lower 2D:4D than males. Above this value, they had higher 2D:4D than males and the sex difference in 2D:4D increased in size with increasing 4D.¶
If digit ratios can differ between different groups of users, then they might be worth considering when it comes to planning multi-touch user interfaces (e.g., many touch screens) or even single-touch user interfaces (e.g., keyboards). The placement of icons, buttons, and other “things” that users must press their fingers against could potentially lead to bias, i.e., the interface design favors some groups of users over others.
- Consider
Suppose you are responsible for updating a user experience that involves a user participating in some interaction that involves both their second digit (2D) and fourth digit (4D) at the same time. Further suppose that the user must place the tip of each digit at specific locations in order for the interaction to succeed.
- Insight
Based on Manning’s findings, we can infer that certain placements may be easier for some user’s to achieve based on their digit ratio. The findings also show that some of this physical variation is correlated with a user’s sex.
- Why do we care?
We can use this information to inform our design decisions. If you pick the placements based on a prticular digit ratio, then you might bias the experience towards one sex or the other; and if you pick the placements so that the is similar for both sexes, then you might bias the experience for users with outlier digit ratios.
- Solution
To achieve equitable experiences, you might consider making one of the placement choices the default and the other placement choice something that is achievable by adjusting the settings.
What questions should be considered to mitigate biases based on physical variations among our users? That’s the topic for today’s DDQ.
5.2.2. Breakout Groups¶
Duration: \(\sim\) 20 minutes
Randomize!
Please randomize!
Quickly introduce yourselves to each other, if you don’t already know each other.
Pick a group representative. This person will be responsible for posting your breakout group’s response on Piazza before breakout group work ends for this activity.
Help your group representative respond to the points below in a followup discussion to Piazza @19. If you’re not sure if your choice of interface is considered “computer-related,” then feel free to ask your instructor.
List the names of your breakout group members.
Without realizing it, biases can manifest themselves in our designs. List two or three ways the members of your breakout group might personally but unintentionally introduce bias based on physical diversity into a design.
Search the Web for an example where a human-computer interface failed to respond to some of the physical variations in its users. Provide a link and briefly summarize the scenario, including descriptions of any issues your example caused.
What are some things we should consider to avoid what happened in your example provided in 3b? In other words, how might we preemptively respond to physical diversity in our designs?
Who benefits from these considerations? For each stakeholder you identify, please provide a brief justification.
As a group, look at and reply to the posts that other groups made.
5.2.3. After Breakout Groups¶
Duration: TBD
Look at some of the Piazza posts as a class.
5.2.4. After Class¶
Before the next class period, individually comment on another group’s post by replying to their followup discussion in Piazza @19.
Continue reading the Foundations module and familiarize yourself with the vocabulary.
Here is a list of current assignments:
Released
Category
Assignment
Day
Date
2023-01-10
Term Project
FRI
2023-01-20
2023-01-19
Paper Pres.
THU
2023-01-26
2023-01-19
Term Project
Milestone 1: Problem Proposal (Part 1)
FRI
2023-01-27
2023-01-19
Paper Pres.
THU
2023-02-09
2023-01-19
Term Project
Milestone 1: Problem Proposal (Part 2)
FRI
2023-02-10
2023-02-07
Exams
FRI
2023-02-10
2023-02-07
Exams
TUE
2023-02-14
2023-02-16
Term Project
FRI
2023-03-17
2023-03-20
Term Project
FRI
2023-04-14
2023-03-28
Exams
FRI
2023-04-21
2023-03-28
Exams
THU
2023-04-27
2023-03-28
Term Project
TUE
2023-05-09
Comments
Please keep the comments polite and constructive. In addition to whatever else you want to write, please comment on one aspect of a group’s post that you like and one aspect that you think needs improvement (e.g., you find that something is unclear or you don’t understand a justification). Be sure to provide a brief justification for each.