The presence of women in the tech is a frequent topic of discussion. But, women have always been a part of the landscape. They have influenced the direction of the tech industry by their inventions and initiatives. Here, we look at five ways women have changed the tech industry.
By programming the first electrical computer
There is no tech industry without the computer. Women were integral in getting the concept started. The ENIAC is considered the first electrical computer. In 1946, six female mathematicians were enlisted to program it. They were Betty Jennings Bartik, Betty Snyder Holberton, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frances Bilas Spence, and Kay McNulty Mauchly Antonelli.
These women programmed the ENIAC to calculate the trajectory of missiles. Their work paved the way for the modern software industry.
By making the search engine responsive to needs
Search engines allow people to navigate the internet. It works because the search engine can respond effectively to the language normally used by people. Karen Sparck Jones is responsible for this trait.
Jones was a computer scientist in the Language Research Unit at Cambridge. Her work became the foundation of how information from the internet is sorted and presented. Jones enabled the use of thesauri so that the computer can recognize comparable words. She also introduced the concept of weighing terms. Weighing terms present more relevant results first.
By advocating for a more inclusive industry
The Center for Talent Innovation estimates that only 38% of women in the United States work in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. One of the people trying to change the ratio is Sheryl Sandberg.
Sandberg is known for being the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, but, she is also a strong proponent for women to enter the field of technology. Her foundation, LeanIn.org, partnered with the Anita Borg Institute to support women in achieving their goals.
The idea of women supporting women is echoed in many other instances. Another example is Chrissy Weems who is the co-founder and CEO of Origami Owl, a global company valued at more than $250 million. She spearheaded the “Force of Good Project,” which supports academic and economic opportunities for women in developing nations.
By making it easier to communicate
Erna Schneider Hoover was a doctor in philosophy and mathematics. In the 1960s, she was working for Bell Telephone. She was tasked to find a way to make the routing of calls more efficient. The system used at the time was mechanical.
Erna Schneider Hoover invented stored program control. It was the first computerized switching system. The computer evaluated how many calls occurred during different times. By adjusting the acceptance rate of calls, the system stopped overloading. The technology is still used in call centers today.
By making computing capabilities mobile
People who use smartphones and tablets should recognize the efforts of Sophie Wilson as the European Patent Office did in 2013. She was part of the team that developed the first commercially viable personal computers. She also created the original ARM computer processor. The ARM processor was used on small devices because it required fewer transistors and less power.
Wilson also developed the FirePath processor that is used to power broadband Internet access devices. In total, Wilson holds 59 patents granted over the course of her career.
Names like Betty Bartik, Erna Schneider, Sheryl Sandberg, and Chrissy Weems represent the tip of the iceberg. Their work contributed to the evolution of tech and other industries. It just shows that women are also game-changers in the tech industry. History shows that as the tech industry changes, even more, women will be an integral part of the innovation.
