Language & Technology

The rapid expansion of computer capabilities coupled with increased availability of digital devices has resulted in an unprecedented lifestyle change for all humanity. While digital technology has universally improved quality of life and accessibility, there are countless instances where the benefits of technology are not distributed fairly among different groups of people. Despite the fact that most people in the world do not speak English as their first language, English is the most dominant language in the technological sphere. One’s language determines the amount of information that is available to them and affects his or her user experience with technology. While the impact of language on one’s experience with technology can be seen in a number of different areas, I will be focused on two areas in my portfolio. The first area of focus is the ability to type in languages other than English. The second area of focus is the impact of English dominance on the field of software engineering.