Guest Jamika Burge, computer scientist interested in connecting with the humanity of technology, discusses her diverse experiences in AI design including her work at DARPA. They explore democratizing research, the importance of soft skills in design research, and supporting black women in computing. They also delve into the power of cohorts and the collaborative process at conferences.
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Quick takeaways
Leveraging human-centered design principles in technology to create meaningful experiences
Democratizing research within organizations and the importance of governance, leadership, and maintaining relationships with stakeholders
Deep dives
Head of AI Design Insights at Capital One
Jamaica Verge, the head of AI Design Insights at Capital One, discusses her journey and role in leveraging human-centered design principles in technology. She highlights her background as a computer scientist and her interest in connecting with the human aspects of technology to create meaningful experiences. Jamaica also emphasizes the importance of engaging young people in STEM concepts through gamified learning experiences, describing her work at DARPA and UCLA in developing game-based educational platforms. At Capital One, she has focused on democratizing research and building a community of practice for designers, enabling them to conduct usability testing and empowering them to contribute to higher-level research and strategic decision-making.
Democratizing Research
Jamaica Verge discusses the benefits and challenges of democratizing research within organizations. She emphasizes the need for governance and leadership to maintain quality while scaling research activities. Jamaica highlights the importance of maintaining relationships with stakeholders and partners to ensure the value and impact of research is recognized. She also advocates for a holistic approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research to paint a comprehensive picture of the user experience and the business value of research findings.
Black Computer and Community Visibility
Jamaica Verge shares her involvement with blackcomputer.org, an organization dedicated to supporting computing and tech education for black women and girls. She discusses the growth of their annual conference, which has become a platform to amplify the voices and experiences of black women in computing. She emphasizes the importance of creating visibility and community for underrepresented groups in the tech industry. Jamaica highlights the need for continued efforts to ensure equity and representation in the field.
Advancing Research Conference and Mentorship
Jamaica Verge expresses her excitement about being involved in the Advancing Research Conference and the mentorship aspect of the program. She emphasizes the value of mentoring as a two-way experience, where both the mentor and mentee learn from each other. Jamaica discusses the importance of storytelling in research and design, highlighting its role in connecting with stakeholders and sharing insights effectively. She also mentions the opportunity for attendees to participate in small groups for a collaborative and immersive learning experience.
Though trained as a computer scientist, Jamika Burge admits she does not have the heart of a programmer; rather, she’s interested in surfacing and connecting with the humanity of the technology we create. Jamika has taken that approach in her past work, including a stint at DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), where she studied the impact of games on learning. Jamika now leads AI Design Insights at CapitalOne, and is also one of the Advancing Research 2021 Conference curators. Here she shares the story of her career path, and the work she is doing with blackcomputeHER.org (pronounced ‘black computer’), an organization she co-founded that is dedicated to supporting computation and design workforce development for black women and girls.
Jamika Recommends:
Gendershades.org, a project by Joy Buolamwini, Lead Author and Timnit Gebru, PhD, Co-Author
Keep up with Jamika:
JamikaBurge.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDBurge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.jurious/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamika/
More about AR2021: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/advancing-research-2021/
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