GenderMag Recorder's Assistant

<a href="http://gendermag.org" title="Gendermag" > <img src="http://gendermag.org/images/rsz_profile_pic.png" width="180" height="180" style="margin-top: 10px;" align="left"> </a> # What is the GenderMag Recorder's Assistant? The GenderMag Recorder’s Assistant is a Chrome Extension tool that you can use from Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to identify gender-inclusiveness issues in software. [GenderMag](http://gendermag.org/) is a process you can use to find gender biases in user-facing software that you are designing/building. The GenderMag Recorder’s Assistant semi-automates using this process. It is easy to use and can be used by software engineers to management to usability experts. If you want to help make software gender-inclusive, one way is to contribute to the GenderMag Recorder’s Assistant. We welcome everyone with any background to contribute to making the world of software more gender inclusive. There are many different ways to contribute, please see this section on <a href="#Contributing"> Contributing</a>. <a name="install"> ## Resources and Background Information * Chrome Extension link: [GenderMag Recorder's Assistant](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gendermag-recorders-assis/efacfbjnfhfaplaglplaljdleimiiflf?hl=en) * [Download Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) * Short paper: [The GenderMag Recorder’s Assistant](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8506505) * Long paper (Research Study): [Semi-Automating (or not) a Socio-Technical Method for Socio-Technical Systems](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8506514) * [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOy7Aq5lozQ) using the GenderMag Recorder's Assistant. # How does GenderMag make software more inclusive?</h1> Gender Mag Recorders Assistant walks people through how to analyze their website based on different personas. These personas are created by considering 5 cognitive style facets. Each of these facets is a spectrum, and every person can have tendencies to fall in a certain part of the spectrum based on their specific personality and the use case. The five facets are...  GenderMag uses 3 different personalities to help analyze software that fall onto different parts of each spectrum.  While each individual can be at different points on these spectrums, facets statistically cluster around genders; for example, Abi's facet values are those frequently seen in women. As a result, analyzing different personas can be a way to help understand how a range of diverse users can use a program differently and have different needs and wants when using a program. Considering this whole range can thus lead to more gender-inclusive (and overall inclusive) software. GenderMag Recorders Assistant is a semi-automated tool that helps users walk through their software in the mindset of each of the personas and consider how they would each use the software. As a result, creators can find areas where their software only caters to part of the spectrum on each of the five cognitive style facets and address these issues to make the software more inclusive. <h1>Examples of How to Cater to People with a Range of Cognitive Facets</h1> <h4>Example 1 - Motivations:</h4> Explaining the pros and cons of using different features can help users regardless of where they fall on the spectrum of motivations. Users who are solely interested in completing a task can quickly discern the relevant features to use and users with a tech interest can quickly determine which features interest them. <h4>Example 2 - Attitude Toward Risk:</h4> A message pop up asking the user if they are sure they wish to delete a file before doing so to make sure they do not accidentally lose data can prevent risk takers from accidentally deleting files. A guide explaining what happens when a user switches to the new version of a software could help a risk-averse person decide if they wish to make the change. <h4>Example 3 - Learning Style:</h4> Guides showing how to complete relevant tasks on the website such as a set of written instructions, an FAQs page, or a video walkthrough can help people who are process-oriented learners. In order to also appeal to tinkerers, these guides can be optional. For example, there could be a popup the first time a user logins asking if they would like to go through the guides or proceed straight to the homepage. # How to install the GenderMag Recorder's Assistant:</a> ## Method 1: Download from GitHub: 1) On the Recorder's Assistant GitHub page, click on "Clone or download" and then click "Download zip". 2) Extract the downloaded zip file. 4) Open Chrome and click on the icon (⋮) in the top right corner. 5) Click on “Extensions” -> “Manage Extensions”. 6) If Developer Mode is not enabled, click on the slider in the upper right. 7) Click on “Load unpacked” under the search bar in the top left. 8) Select the extracted *zip file* and click "ok". * Don't select the standard file folder (only the zip file will upload). * (For Windows) * Right click on the extracted folder and then click open, or double click on the extracted folder to go one level deeper, then click Select Folder. * If the top level is selected you will get "Manifest file is missing". * Ex. GenderMagRecordersAssistant -> GenderMagRecordersAssistant (select this one). 9) Click on “Update” under the search bar in the top left. 10) The new extension called ”GenderMag Recorder's Assistant” should be in the top left corner of the extensions. ## Method 2: Install from Chrome Web Store <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gendermag-recorders-assis/efacfbjnfhfaplaglplaljdleimiiflf?hl=en" target="_blank" title=" GenderMag Recorder's Assistant" >…