Inclusive, Accessible Tech: Bias-Free Language in Code and Configurations

Explore the importance of inclusive and bias-free language in technology through this 36-minute conference talk by Anne Gentle from Cisco. Delve into the evolving nature of language and the significance of choosing words carefully to avoid harmful subtext or exclusion. Learn about tools and triage methods from an engineering perspective to make bias-free choices in code, UI, documentation, configurations, and everyday language. Discover how to inventory assets, categorize findings, and prioritize work to substitute inclusive alternatives. Examine examples using API and code assets, and witness a demonstration of automating source code or documentation analysis using linters. Gain insights into future efforts for expanding inclusive language beyond English and North American-centered approaches, emphasizing the role of automation tooling in organizing this crucial work.