# Advancing Inclusive Design in Multiple Dimensions

**Authors:** Gabriela Molina León  
**arXiv:** [2303.16790](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.16790)  
**Date:** 2023-03-29  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2303.16790v1/

## Key points

- Advancing inclusive design in technology requires addressing multiple challenges across different dimensions.
- Challenges include populations worked with, biases of researchers, interaction possibilities considered, and the context of technology design.
- Research inclusiveness requires reflection on these challenges and proposing measures to overcome them.
- Bias exists among research participants and researchers themselves, with a systematic exclusion of researchers from non-WEIRD countries.
- Efforts should be made to bring research opportunities to the Global South through hybrid events and regional workshops/conferences.
- Social norms play a significant role in inclusive design, shaping user preferences and concerns regarding technology based on cultural and religious influences.
- Research findings should be presented within their specific contextual framework to address diverse social norms.
- Inclusive design should consider diverse modalities and devices for interaction, such as speech-only interactions or incorporating various devices into design processes.

## Summary

Advancing inclusive design in technology requires addressing multiple challenges across different dimensions. These challenges include the populations we work with, our own biases as researchers, the interaction possibilities we consider, and the context in which we examine technology design. In order to achieve research inclusiveness, it is important to reflect on these challenges and propose measures to overcome them. One challenge that needs to be addressed is the bias that exists not only among research participants but also among researchers themselves. In top conferences and journals, authors often come from institutions located in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. This creates a systematic exclusion of researchers from other regions who may not have access to the same resources or opportunities. To overcome this challenge, efforts should be made to bring research opportunities to the Global South. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of hybrid events which can be utilized to reach out to researchers from different world regions. Organizing workshops and conferences in regional settings such as Latin America and South Asia has proven successful in promoting citational justice and learning from diverse researchers and communities. Social norms also play a significant role in inclusive design. Different countries have specific cultural and religious influences that shape user preferences and concerns regarding technology. For example, a qualitative study conducted in Pakistan found that religion and gender strongly influence privacy concerns among mobile device owners. Similarly, a study conducted in Germany prioritized privacy-by-design for senior citizens using voice assistants due to the importance German citizens place on privacy. It is crucial to present research findings within their specific contextual framework in order to address these diverse social norms. Inclusive design should also consider diverse modalities and devices for interaction. Speech interaction has been increasingly incorporated into data visualization projects as part of multimodal interfaces. By considering different modalities such as speech-only interactions or incorporating various devices into design processes designers can ensure inclusivity across different user preferences and abilities.