D/Deaf Culture Gives New Meaning to Multicultural Studies
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FALL 2020 VOLUME 20 • NUMBER 1 Amplifying the black SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT A Broken Industry: How Market Research Fails Researchers of Color voice TOOLBOX d/Deaf Culture Gives New Meaning to Multicultural Studies GLOBAL The Story of Not Everyday Life: From 0 to 900 in 30 days n BOOK REVIEWS n complete data and a good model for how and collectively as a group. For example, a complex system works. But Heffernan the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness points out that by trying to simplify Innovations (CEPI) has developed a complexity, we miss seeing all the forces four-pronged approach to defending at work that produce a particular result. against future epidemics. First, realize This misdirection is amplified by relying that epidemics come without warning. on data that are typically incomplete, full They move fast because of international of error and bias. travel and can spread across the globe Heffernan explores how this folly plays within sixty days. Since the 1970s, new out in many areas such as financial pathogens appear at the rate of one or forecasting and DNA profiling, which she more each year and no two epidemics describes as a “chemical horoscope full of are alike. The CEPI framework consid- potential and possibilities but little ers the messy and unpredictable forces certainty.” The genes that determine that play into a pandemic such as Uncharted: How to Navigate the something as simple as hair color are politics, culture, and individual choice. Future by Margaret Heffernan, Avid incredibly complex. Even if science were By using the framework, epidemiologists Reader Press, 2020 at the point to confidently create designer can develop a more effective response. babies, how do we know which traits will Huge problems cannot be solved by Reviewed by Kay Corry Aubrey matter in the future? expertise alone. Scenario planning n User Experience Researcher Our technology is advanced but exercises help stakeholders explore the n Usability Resources Inc. incomplete and suffers from the same forces at work when dealing with a n Bedford, Massachusetts prediction compulsion. We have become complex system. As Heffernan says, n kay@usabilityresources.net reliant on invisible systems that we do “Scenarios illuminate the contingencies, not understand. As a result of outsourc- contradictions, and trade-offs of the real ing major areas of our lives to apps, we world, where no one interest or perspec- argaret Heffernan’s Uncharted: have lost human skills, such as the ability tive is in control. That’s why they How to Navigate the Future is to direct our attention, form memories, produce conflict but also epiphanies.” an original and beautifully read a paper map, deal with ambiguity, When running this type of experiment, written look into how the M and deal with people who are different it is important to recruit a diverse pool events that have the most profound effect from us. The way we are profiled by of participants. on humanity cannot be predicted. technology and algorithms impacts our Work needs to be recast from hierar- Margaret Heffernan was born in Texas ability to get jobs or loans or gain access chical command-and-control structures but has spent most of her life in the U.K. to other opportunities. Apps that show us into egalitarian “Cathedral Projects” She is a TED speaker and has had many how to raise our children diminish our where each person has a defined role successful careers that include thirteen ability to trust our own judgment. The and contributes to their full ability. years as a producer of documentaries for algorithms are invisible—we do not know Cathedral Projects, such as CERN and the BBC and as a serial entrepreneur and how they work or the value system that is the building of the Sagrada Familia in CEO of several tech companies in the embedded in them. But one thing is Barcelona, are based on the pursuit of United States. She is currently a professor certain—they are designed to serve the knowledge, powered by the energy and at the University of Bath. Margaret has interests of their creators and not the commitment of participants, and last written four internationally-acclaimed average person. beyond a single lifetime. books on business and how to live a Rather than closing our minds, From beginning to end, this is a meaningful life that meets the challenges predictions should stimulate fresh wonderful and timely book that elo- of our time. thinking and be used to “broaden and quently describes the challenges we face According to Heffernan, modern navigate our conceptual and imagina- in our time and the skills we need to society operates under a false belief that tive horizons.” Heffernan shows how we develop to thrive in the future. you can predict the future if you have can reclaim our power as individuals 68 QRCA VIEWS FALL 2020 www.qrca.org.