Driving the Future of Work in Mexico through Artificial Intelligence: My Experience with the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI)

As an expert selected by the Mexican federal government to be part of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), I have had the honor of contributing to the working group on "AI for the Future of Work." My participation in this group has been an enriching and transformative experience, especially in the context of how artificial intelligence (AI) can and should positively impact the labor market in Mexico.

During my time with GPAI, I led several key initiatives that emphasize the importance of integrating AI into the workplace. One of the most notable was securing €20,000 to fund internships focused on creating AI for workers, specifically for Mexican students. These internships not only provide development opportunities for our youth but also foster the creation of technology that can improve working conditions in our country.

In these internships, we taught students the importance of developing human-centered artificial intelligence, an approach that prioritizes the well-being and needs of people in the design and implementation of technologies. Students learned to apply these principles while working on concrete projects, such as developing intelligent assistants for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These assistants were specifically designed to facilitate passport processing, improving the efficiency and accessibility of these services for Mexican citizens.

Additionally, in collaboration with INFOTEC, several UNAM students were hired as interns to implement artificial intelligence solutions in various government areas. This experience was crucial for students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting and contribute directly to the modernization of the public sector. Collaborations between government and academia, like this one, are essential for integrating cutting-edge technologies and ensuring that Mexico remains at the forefront of AI use to improve public services.

Another significant contribution was leading the development of a new AI aimed at supporting both workers and the government. This project, developed by talented UNAM students, not only demonstrates the capabilities of our youth but also positions Mexico as a leader in the creation of labor-inclusive technology.

My work with GPAI has also allowed me to lead global studies on the impact of AI in the workplace, publishing scientific articles that have contributed to the international discussion on this crucial topic. Additionally, I have had the privilege of advising senators from the United States and Mexico on how AI can transform work, ensuring that informed decisions are made to benefit workers.

Recommendations for the Mexican Federal Government

Throughout this experience, I have developed some recommendations that I consider essential for Mexico to stay at the forefront of AI integration in the workplace:

1. Creation of International Training Programs: It is essential that Mexico invests in training our citizens in the latest trends and AI technologies at a global level. This will not only improve our internal capabilities but also strengthen our position on the international stage.
2. Internships in AI + GovTech: Propose the creation of internship programs that combine AI with GovTech, training future leaders at the intersection of technology and governance. This will allow for a more efficient and modern public administration.
3. Strengthening the Support Network for Mexicans Abroad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should promote scientific and AI connections between Mexican and international universities. These collaborations will not only facilitate the exchange of knowledge but also help our nationals abroad access strong support networks and advanced technological resources.
4. Promotion of Government-Academia Collaborations: It is crucial to strengthen collaborations between the government and academia to create a robust ecosystem that drives the development of new artificial intelligence technologies in Mexico. These alliances will allow young talent to integrate into projects that modernize and improve public administration, ensuring that technological innovations benefit society as a whole.

My participation in GPAI has not only been an honor but also an opportunity to positively influence the future of work in Mexico. Through these recommendations, I trust that our country can continue moving towards a future where AI is a tool for growth and the well-being of all Mexicans.

Impulsando el Futuro del Trabajo en México a través de la Inteligencia Artificial: Mi Experiencia en el Global Partnership on AI (GPAI)

Como experta seleccionada por el gobierno federal mexicano para formar parte del Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), he tenido el honor de contribuir al grupo de trabajo en "AI for the Future of Work". Mi participación en este grupo ha sido una experiencia enriquecedora y trascendental, especialmente en el contexto de cómo la inteligencia artificial (IA) puede y debe impactar positivamente el mercado laboral en México.

Durante mi tiempo en GPAI, he liderado varias iniciativas clave que subrayan la importancia de integrar la IA en el ámbito laboral. Una de las más destacadas fue la obtención de €20,000 para financiar prácticas profesionales enfocadas en la creación de IA para obreros, dirigidas a estudiantes mexicanos. Estas prácticas no solo brindan oportunidades de desarrollo a nuestros jóvenes, sino que también fomentan la creación de tecnología que puede mejorar las condiciones laborales en nuestro país.

En estas prácticas, enseñamos a los estudiantes sobre la importancia de desarrollar inteligencia artificial centrada en los humanos, un enfoque que prioriza el bienestar y las necesidades de las personas en el diseño y la implementación de tecnologías. Los estudiantes aprendieron a aplicar estos principios mientras trabajaban en proyectos concretos, como el desarrollo de asistentes inteligentes para la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. Estos asistentes fueron diseñados específicamente para facilitar los trámites de pasaporte, mejorando la eficiencia y accesibilidad de estos servicios para los ciudadanos mexicanos.

Además, en colaboración con INFOTEC, se logró que varios estudiantes de la UNAM fueran contratados como internos para implementar soluciones de inteligencia artificial en diversas áreas del gobierno. Esta experiencia fue fundamental para que los estudiantes aplicaran sus conocimientos en un entorno real y contribuyeran directamente a la modernización del sector público. Las colaboraciones entre el gobierno y la academia, como esta, son esenciales para integrar tecnologías novedosas y asegurar que México esté a la vanguardia en el uso de IA para mejorar los servicios públicos.

Otra de las contribuciones significativas fue liderar el desarrollo de una nueva IA destinada a apoyar tanto a los obreros como al gobierno. Este proyecto, desarrollado por estudiantes talentosos de la UNAM, no solo demuestra la capacidad de nuestra juventud, sino que también posiciona a México como un líder en la creación de tecnología laboralmente inclusiva.

Mi trabajo en GPAI también me ha permitido liderar estudios globales sobre el impacto de la IA en el ámbito laboral, publicando artículos científicos que han contribuido a la discusión internacional sobre este tema crucial. Además, he tenido el privilegio de asesorar a senadores de Estados Unidos y México sobre cómo la IA puede transformar el trabajo, asegurando que se tomen decisiones informadas que beneficien a los trabajadores.

Recomendaciones para el Gobierno Federal de México

A lo largo de esta experiencia, he desarrollado algunas recomendaciones que considero esenciales para que México se mantenga a la vanguardia en la integración de la IA en el trabajo:

1. Creación de Programas de Capacitación Internacional: Es fundamental que México invierta en la formación de nuestros ciudadanos en las últimas tendencias y tecnologías de IA a nivel global. Esto no solo mejorará nuestras capacidades internas, sino que también fortalecerá nuestra posición en el escenario internacional.
2. Internships en IA + GovTech: Proponer la creación de programas de prácticas profesionales que combinen la IA con el GovTech, capacitando a los futuros líderes en la intersección entre tecnología y gobernanza. Esto permitirá una administración pública más eficiente y adaptada a los tiempos modernos.
3. Fortalecimiento de la Red de Apoyo a Mexicanos en el Exterior: La Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores debe impulsar la conexión científica y en IA entre universidades mexicanas e internacionales. Estas colaboraciones no solo facilitarán el intercambio de conocimientos, sino que también ayudarán a nuestros connacionales en el exterior a acceder a redes de apoyo sólidas y recursos tecnológicos avanzados.
4. Fomento de Colaboraciones Academia-Gobierno: Es crucial fortalecer las colaboraciones entre el gobierno y la academia para crear un ecosistema robusto que impulse el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías de inteligencia artificial en México. Estas alianzas permitirán que el talento joven se integre en proyectos que modernicen y mejoren la administración pública, garantizando que las innovaciones tecnológicas beneficien a la sociedad en su conjunto.

Mi participación en GPAI no solo ha sido un honor, sino también una oportunidad para influir positivamente en el futuro del trabajo en México. A través de estas recomendaciones, confío en que nuestro país puede seguir avanzando hacia un futuro en el que la IA sea una herramienta para el crecimiento y el bienestar de todos los mexicanos.

My Journey with the OECD's Global Partnership on AI: Shaping the Future of AI Together

I'm thrilled to share my experience as an expert with the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), an initiative launched by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This journey has been both inspiring and impactful, as I work alongside brilliant minds from around the world to tackle some of the biggest challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Why GPAI Was Created

The GPAI was set up to address the rapid advancements in AI, ensuring these technologies are developed ethically and inclusively. It aims to:

• Promote responsible AI: Ensuring AI is used for good.
• Enhance international cooperation: Sharing knowledge and best practices globally.
• Support sustainable development: Using AI to solve global issues like health and education.
• Encourage innovation: Driving advancements while managing risks.

How GPAI Works

GPAI brings together experts from various countries, chosen by their governments, to collaborate on key areas like:

• Responsible AI
• Data Governance
• The Future of Work
• Innovation and Commercialization

My Role and Contributions

I’m honored to have been named a GPAI expert by Mexico’s federal government. I’m part of the working group focusing on AI for the future of work. We’re exploring how AI impacts jobs and creating strategies to ensure it benefits workers rather than displaces them.

Mini Internships for Latin America

One of the most rewarding projects I've been involved in is setting up mini internships for students in Latin America, including Mexico and Costa Rica. These internships teach students about human-centered design for the future of work. We’re partnering with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Universidad de Colima, and Universidad de Costa Rica.

Students are interviewing workers to understand how they use AI at work. Based on what we learn, we’re developing new AI tools to support them better.

Innovation Workshop in Paris

As part of my GPAI role, I was invited to an innovation workshop in Paris. It was an incredible experience to meet and brainstorm with leading AI experts. The insights and ideas exchanged were invaluable, and I’m excited to bring this knowledge back to our projects in Latin America. In my next blog post, I will provide more details about the Paris innovation workshop and the exciting developments that emerged from it.

Lessons on Polarization from Global Leaders

I recently had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the Ford Foundation and the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) in their New York offices. This convening brought together global leaders to share lessons on polarization, aiming to enhance our understanding and strategies concerning the challenges the United States currently faces in this area.

The event kicked off with an insightful introduction by Hilary Pennington, the Executive Vice President of Programs at the Ford Foundation. Hilary set the stage by discussing the importance of this gathering, especially in today's rapidly polarizing world.

Panel Discussion

A panel moderated by Mark Freeman, the Executive Director of IFIT, featured an impressive lineup of speakers who provided firsthand accounts of dealing with polarization in their countries. The panel included:

• General Óscar Naranjo (Colombia) — a renowned former Director General of the Colombian National Police, General Naranjo was a lead negotiator in the Colombian government’s peace talks with the FARC and went on to serve as Minister for Post-Conflict and then Vice President of the Republic.
• Hon. Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui (Tunisia) — a prominent national business leader, Ms. Bouchamaoui was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 for her leadership in the Tunisian Quartet that prevented a civil war and helped usher in the country’s modern constitution.
• President Chandrika Kumaratunga (Sri Lanka) — Sri Lanka’s first and only female Executive President, for eleven years she led the country during its brutal civil war, including surviving an assassination attempt, before later serving as Chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation.
• Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia (Kenya) — the first General Secretary of the World Council of Churches to be elected from Africa, Rev. Dr. Kobia served as ecumenical special envoy to Sudan and as Senior Advisor to Kenya’s President, before assuming his current role as Chairman of Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
• Hon. Ms. Monica McWilliams (UK) — cofounder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition cross-community political party and its lead negotiator in the peace talks that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Ms. McWilliams later served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2005-2012.

Each leader shared moving stories and lessons from their experiences in creating peace agreements and navigating through intense national crises. They discussed how polarization often feels like a race to the bottom, highlighting the difficulty of recognizing when societies have hit rock bottom and the critical need for action to change the prevailing culture of division.

Insights from Monica McWilliams

One poignant moment was when Ms. McWilliams shared how personal losses due to polarization pushed her towards realizing the urgent need for cultural and systemic change. This resonated deeply with me, especially considering my current research on AI tools for incarcerated individuals, emphasizing the necessity of including diverse voices in dialogue and policy-making to combat polarization effectively.

General Naranjo's Approach

General Naranjo emphasized the critical need to not tolerate violence and to enhance the visibility of victims. This resonates deeply with ongoing initiatives in Mexico to commemorate victims of violence, exemplified by the recent erection of statues throughout the city to honor women who have disappeared or been murdered. Such actions are crucial for cultivating a culture that decisively rejects violence and prioritizes understanding over victory. This theme of visibility also aligns with our research on sousveillance tools for workers, through which we help them document and quantify workplace harms. Promoting visibility is an effective strategy to combat polarization and violence, ensuring that victims receive the recognition they deserve. I am proud to contribute to this important research on sousveillance.

Duet by US Leaders

The event also featured a "duet by US Leaders," with Ai-Jen Poo from the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Brian Hooks from Stand Together, who discussed the role of fear in fueling polarization and the potential of caregiving as a central strategy to counteract this through enhancing well-being and fostering mutual respect.

Lunch Discussions

Lunch was not just a meal but an extension of the learning environment, with table discussions that allowed us to dive deeper into strategies for building trust and understanding across different communities. This was particularly enlightening as we shared strategies on engaging with rural communities in the US, recognizing common goals, and avoiding divisive topics.

This convening by the Ford Foundation and IFIT was not only timely but also a crucial reminder of the ongoing need for dialogue, understanding, and proactive efforts to address polarization. It has inspired me to think more critically about how we can apply these global lessons to the US context and beyond, particularly through my work with AI and community engagement. The connections made and insights gained will undoubtedly influence my approach to research and activism moving forward.

Launching a Kite into CHI 2024: Insights from the Premiere Scientific Conference on HCI

My research lab and I had the privilege of attending and presenting our research at the premiere scientific conference in human computer interaction (CHI'24), which was held in Hawaii this year.

This premier Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conference showcased a plethora of innovative research focused on enhancing the interaction between humans and technology. In this blog post, I am thrilled to share a deeper dive into several studies that align and inspire our research on designing empowering tools for gig workers.

Our Research: Designing Worker-Centric Sousveillance Tools

Before we dive into the interesting new research we heard about at CHI’24, I would like to share a bit about what my lab was proud to present at the conference! We presented our new research on designing sousveillance tools for gig workers, which via interviews and co-design sessions identified how gig workers imagined and desired tools that would allow them to collect their own data about their workplace, as well as any concerns gig workers could have about such technology. You might be wondering, why do gig workers need such type of tools? A problem that exists is that within gig platforms there is an information asymmetry problem where workers have less access to information about their workplace than other stakeholders within the platform. For example, workers on gig platforms normally cannot see if they are earning less than others workers or if low wages is the norm on the platform. Similarly, workers usually cannot easily share information about their clients to alert each other of when a client is a fraudster. Gig platforms have been designed in a way where workers are usually in the dark about what is happening in their workplace. This was why it was important for us to think about how tools that would allow workers to have access to their own workplace data should look like and in a way that was worker centric. Note that we used the term: “sousveillance” to refer to this technology as sousveillance is about the people without power (in this case workers) being able to conduct surveillance over those who have power (e.g., their algorithmic bosses.) This term contrasts with surveillance which is about people in power monitoring those who do not have power (e.g., bosses monitoring workers). My students: undergraduate Maya De Los Santos and PhD student Kimberly Do were who presented our research. I am very proud of them and the research they conducted with my students, Dr. Michael Muller and myself.

Link to our paper

Relevant Research Highlights

CHI'24 offered a range of presentations of scientific papers that enriched our understanding of HCI's role in labor dynamics (an important aspect of our research), each bringing unique insights that intersect with our research goals. Some of these papers include:

• Self-Tracking in the Gig Economy: From The Pennsylvania State University, researchers delved into how gig workers engage in self-tracking to manage their responsibilities across different identities. This study provides a nuanced view of the self-surveillance gig workers perform to balance personal and platform demands, complementing our research on external surveillance.
  Paper link
• AI and Worker Wellbeing: A study by Northeastern University and the University of Chicago examined the resistance and acceptance of AI systems that infer workers' wellbeing from digital traces. This research is crucial as we consider ethical implications in our sousveillance tools, ensuring they support rather than undermine worker autonomy.
  Paper link
• Interaction Challenges with AI in Programming: Insights from Wellesley College and Northeastern University into how beginning programmers interact with AI in coding presented an interesting parallel to our work. Understanding these interaction barriers helps inform our design of more intuitive interfaces for gig workers interacting with AI tools.
  Paper link
• Designing with Incarcerated Workers: The University of California, Irvine shared compelling work on using participatory design with marginalized groups, like recently incarcerated youth, to create mixed reality tools. Their approach underscores the value of involving underrepresented communities in design processes, a principle central to our research ethos. We have also recently been able to start working with incarnated individuals in California, such as Jesse Nava. This research from UC Irvine helped us to start to identify how we could potentially conduct co-design sessions with prisoners. We are looking forward to continuing this research.
  Paper Link
• Temporal Flexibility and Crowd Work: Research from University College London highlighted the constraints on crowdworkers' temporal flexibility, underscoring similar challenges faced by gig workers in managing work schedules under rigid platform algorithms. This research was especially relevant for other research we are conducting on understanding how workers’ manage their time and how we can best design tools that support their different temporal preferences, as well as understand when the platform might be forcing onto workers certain time constraints that are unnecessary and that hurt workers.
  Paper Link
• Data Labeling and AI Interventions in Crowdsourcing: A study from the University of Washington introduced 'LabelAId', a tool that uses AI to improve the quality and knowledge of crowdworkers performing data labeling. This aligns with our interest in tools that enhance worker capabilities and autonomy.
  Paper link
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Inspired Digital Interventions: The University of British Columbia's exploration of therapy-inspired digital tools for knowledge workers tackled the balance between productivity and well-being, a balance we aim to address in gig work environments.
  Paper link

Expanding Our Horizons

These presentations and papers not only expanded our understanding of the challenges faced by workers in the gig economy but also illustrated the breadth of opportunities for HCI research to intervene positively. Each study provided valuable insights into different aspects of how technology interfaces with labor dynamics, from enhancing worker autonomy to addressing systemic issues through design.

Looking Forward

Inspired by the innovative ideas and critical discussions at CHI'24, we are excited to continue refining our projects. The conference has invigorated our commitment to developing HCI solutions that genuinely empower workers and contribute positively to the broader discourse on labor and technology.

Stay tuned for more updates as we apply these enriched perspectives to our ongoing and future research projects, continuing to advocate for and develop technologies that uphold the dignity and rights of workers.

Into the World of AI for Good: Reflections on My First Week in the Civic AI Lab at Northeastern

By Undergraduate Researcher Liz Maylin

Last Tuesday, I began my journey in the Civic A.I. Lab at Northeastern University with a mix of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude for the experience. A special thanks to Professor Eni Mustafaraj (Wellesley College) and Dr. Saiph Savage (Northeastern) for this opportunity. I embarked my first week in this transformative space, eager to learn and contribute to the lab, which studies problems involving people, worker collectives, and non-profit organizations to create systems with human centered designs to address these problems. Some of the objectives of the lab include fighting against disinformation and creating tools in collaboration with gig workers. Previous projects include designing tools for latina gig workers, systems for addressing data voids on social media, and a system for quantifying the invisible labor of crowd workers. Nestled at the crossroads of Human-Computer Interaction, Artificial Intelligence, and civic engagement, the research of this lab is thoughtful and resoundingly impactful. I am honored to join a project that will support workers in their collective bargaining efforts.

First Impressions at Northeastern

During my first days, the differences between Wellesley College and Northeastern stood out to me the most. Wellesley College is located 12 miles outside of Boston in the extremely quiet, wealthy town of Wellesley whereas Northeastern is located directly in the city, allowing for greater access and a larger community. I get to walk past Fenway Park, various restaurants, boba shops, a beautiful park, and the Museum of Fine Arts on my commute! It is definitely a change of setting but I am happy for the experience. So much to explore!
First weeks are exciting because there is so much to learn and new people to meet. The research team is full of amazing, talented students that I am excited to collaborate with and learn from. As I prepare for the application process for graduate school, I am fortunate to gain insight into the lives of PhD and Master’s students that will help me make informed decisions for my own academic journey. Everyone has been very welcoming and helpful, I am thrilled to spend this summer with them.

Exploring Gig Work and Participatory Design

I have spent most of my first week getting familiar with gig work and participatory design through literature review. Gig work is a type of employment arrangement where individuals perform short-term jobs or tasks. This work includes independent contractors, freelancers, and project based work. Often, gig work is presented as the opportunity to “be your own boss” and “ to work on your own time”, however this line of work comes with challenges such as irregular income, limited job security, and typically no benefits. The use of digital platforms has facilitated connection between workers and employers; however, there is room for improvement that will benefit both users and platforms. Participatory design is a method that includes stakeholders and end-users in the process of designing technologies with the goal of creating useful tools or improving existing ones. For example, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin held sessions with drivers from Uber and Lyft to reimagine a design of the platform that would center their well-being. It’s fascinating work that unveils different solutions and possibilities capable of reconciling stakeholder and worker issues.

Learning about Data Visualization

Additionally, I have been getting acquainted with different forms of data visualization. I have some experience programming with python but usually for problem sets or web scraping so I was filled with anticipation to acquire a new skill. Specifically, I have focused on working on text analysis. With the help of tutorials, google, and Viraj from our lab, I was able to make a wordcloud that showed the most frequent words in a dataset that included reviews of women’s clothes from 2019 (shown below).

Through this process, I was able to learn about various resources such as Kaggle and datacamp that provide datasets and tutorials to practice working with data. I originally tried using the NLTK library but I had several problems with my IDE (VSCode). With some troubleshooting help from lab members, I switched my approach to just using pandas, matplotlib, and wordcloud. I am happy I got it working and I’m looking forward to refining this skill. As I wrap my first week, I am beyond excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. This experience has ignited a passion for leveraging technology for civic engagement. I am grateful for the warm welcome, the technical help, and the inspiring conversations from this week. I am eager to collaborate and contribute to the work of the lab. :)

Starting My Summer Internship at the Northeastern Civic AI Lab

Starting My Summer Internship at the Northeastern Civic AI Lab

Intro

Hi! I’m Simon Juknelis, a rising high school senior at Noble and Greenough in Dedham, MA, and this week, I am beginning my work as an intern at the Civic AI Lab at Northeastern University. I’ve always been interested in building projects that help other people and make an impact, and that’s what I hope to achieve over the course of this internship.
The lab’s overall mission is to build new technology solutions that create equitable positive impacts and that empower all members of society. To achieve this goal, the lab works with non-profit organizations such as the National Science Foundation and UNESCO as well as tech industry leaders such as Twitch and Meta. The lab has done research into a large number of areas such as preventing disinformation using AI and data labeling work, and I’m very excited to get to work with this team! Participatory Design
Our lab’s work over the coming months will involve building software solutions for use by and to benefit gig workers. As such, I read up on the methodological framework of participatory design. Participatory design encapsulates the idea of giving the users of a product the power to shape it to fit their needs. Participatory design can be carried out with interviews and workshop sessions with a sample of potential users of the product. The future users should be given the ability to give suggestions during the ideation phase of the product as well as at various stages throughout its development. Our lab will be using participatory design over the next few months in order to conduct our research and build solutions. As we work on finding research participants and setting up interviews, I decided to test my technical skills by building a small web plugin called ProductWords, which allows users to look through Amazon products, add them to a list, and see statistics about them.

Participatory Design for Gig Workers

In fields like gig work, there can often be a large power imbalance between a single worker, on one hand, and the corporate clients and work platforms, on the other hand, that provide the gig worker’s income. As such, when tools are designed for gig workers, they are often designed without gig workers’ actual needs in mind, and instead are designed by the platforms based on what they think the workers need or even based on what would benefit them or the clients. As such, participatory design is an important tool to ensure that tools built for gig workers actually benefit those workers.

Designing Tools for Gig Workers with Figma

Part of our lab’s work will involve using a software platform called Figma for UI/UX design. One of the main benefits of using a service like Figma is the collaborative benefits it provides. It allows for ideas about interface layout, animations, and functionality to be more easily communicated between team members, and multiple team members can work together on the same files to create a unified design workspace. I used Figma to design the interface for ProductWords. Doing it this way was especially helpful because I have not yet finished implementing all of these visual elements into ProductWords, but I still have a good sense of what I want the final product to look like and I’ll be able to look back on this Figma doc to see what I should implement.

Data Visualizations for Gig Workers

Our lab is also planning on making extensive use of data visualization in our research on the gig economy. One common and easy-to-understand form of data visualization is the word cloud, which displays words at a size corresponding to their frequency in a given text. One of the resources our team was using described how to create a word cloud using a Python library; however, as I was building ProductWords as a web plugin, I needed to find a way to do this with JavaScript. I found a JavaScript library called D3 which is a general-purpose solution for creating visual representations of data to be displayed on web pages. Combined with an extension for D3 created by Jason Davies, I was able to create word clouds based on the descriptions of the Amazon products in the list.

Other Technical Aspects

One of the main reasons I decided to make this web plugin was that I wanted to practice some of the features of web plugins that we might want to use for our lab’s research. With ProductWords, I implemented web scraping (pulling the Amazon item description and price information), a popup page, and communication between the web-scraper background script and the popup script.
ProductWords is not a very useful plugin yet, but I got some good practice implementing the features that will probably be necessary for any version of the web plugin(s) our lab will work on, and maybe it could even be used as a jumping-off point that gets evolved into our final product.