Signals, Data and Equity

3 units

This course introduces the design of classification and estimation systems for equity -- that is, with the goal of reducing the inequities of racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism, and other systems of oppression. Systems that change the allocation of resources among people can increase inequity due to their inputs, the systems themselves, or how the systems interact in the context in which they are deployed. This course presents background in power and oppression to help predict how new technological and societal systems might interact and when they might confront or reinforce existing power systems. Measurement theory -- the study of the mismatch between a system's intended measure and the data it actually uses -- is covered. Multiple examples of sensing and classification systems that operate on people (e.g., optical, audio, and text sensors) are covered by implementing algorithms and quantifying inequitable outputs.