Technically Wrong

Technically Wrong investigates how technology products and services can harm, exclude, and discriminate against people due to biases built into their design. The book examines real-world examples of tech failures and their impacts on users. Wachter-Boettcher takes readers through various aspects of problematic tech design, from racially insensitive algorithms to privacy violations and hostile user interfaces. Through interviews and research, she documents how design choices made by predominantly white, male tech teams can create negative experiences for women, people of color, and other marginalized groups. The book presents alternative approaches and solutions for creating more inclusive, ethical technology. It outlines specific ways that companies and designers can identify bias, broaden their perspective, and build better products. At its core, this is an examination of power, privilege, and responsibility in the tech industry. The book challenges the notion that technology is neutral and raises important questions about who gets to shape the digital tools that increasingly govern modern life.

Readers find the book presents clear examples of technology bias and discrimination through real-world cases. Many appreciate how it exposes problematic tech industry practices and their impacts on marginalized groups. Likes: - Makes technical concepts accessible to non-experts - Documents specific instances of harmful design choices - Offers practical solutions and actionable steps - Clear writing style that maintains reader engagement Dislikes: - Some view it as too basic for tech professionals - Several note it focuses on problems more than solutions - A portion of readers wanted more technical depth - Some found examples dated or repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (80+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Eye-opening look at how software perpetuates inequality" - Goodreads review "Important topic but scratches the surface" - Amazon review "Should be required reading for tech workers" - LibraryThing review "Made me rethink my own design practices" - Goodreads review

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🔹 Sara Wachter-Boettcher began her career as a content strategist and UX consultant before becoming a prominent tech industry critic, highlighting how design choices can perpetuate bias and discrimination. 🔹 The book emerged from a viral article the author wrote in 2015 about how period-tracking apps often assume all users are heterosexual women trying to get pregnant. 🔹 Major tech companies have made changes based on issues highlighted in the book - for example, Google Photos stopped automatically tagging photos of Black people as "gorillas" after facing criticism for racial bias in its AI. 🔹 The term "edge cases," which the author criticizes throughout the book, originated in engineering to describe rare scenarios but is often misused to dismiss the needs of marginalized users. 🔹 The book's publication in 2017 coincided with broader conversations about tech ethics and responsibility, including the #MeToo movement in Silicon Valley and increased scrutiny of Facebook's role in election manipulation.