[Gendered Innovations] Microsoft Hack-for-Her; GenderMag–software evaluation program

News of two gendered innovations

1. A number of companies on the US West Coast are moving to design gender into tech. Here is a 2-minute video from Microsoft’s Hack-for-Her Summit:

2. A new method called GenderMag, from Margaret Burnett’s team at Oregon State University, enables software designers and practitioners to evaluate problem-solving software from a gender-inclusiveness perspective. The method includes a set of faceted personas that bring five facets of gender research to life, then embeds use of the personas into a concrete process through a gender-specialized Cognitive Walkthrough. Empirical results show that a variety of practitioners who design software are able to use GenderMag to find actionable gender-inclusiveness issues in their software.

Foundations, publications, and a beta version of the method in “kit” form are available here

Feedback and contacts are welcome and appreciated. Contact information: burnett@oregonstate.edu