The current generations of computers serve multiple productive roles. Computers have gradually evolved seasonally, and with each improvement, we experience and enjoy new features that come with them. They are giving us an opportunity to work from home during these difficult times. However, apart from just using and enjoying the essential services, they tend to offer, it is crucial to dig deep into computing history. Who are these masterminds behind modern computing? An answer to this question would mostly revolve around some of the most common computing men we have known for ages in the field of computing.
Nevertheless, women were also part of the game and great team players towards advancing the computing field into modernity. Unfortunately, most of their efforts end up unrecognized, perhaps because of some undefined notion. You probably know it, right? In this article, we shall explore some of these geeky computing women who have pioneered the modern computing field for a while. If you feel like your knowledge is left unappreciated, try yourself at math writing jobs.
Do women belong to computing? The answer is inarguable “YES,” and Lady Ada Lovelace proves it right. Remember, many more were part of the same venture taken by Ada. They were some of the greatest computing “she” masterminds in the 19th and 20th centuries. If you dig deep into some computer science books and encyclopedias, you will bump into one or two “she” names related to computing. Do you remember the ENIAC? If you do not, worry not because we have already taken care of that just for you. ENIAC is an acronym for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer and serves as the first programmable, electronic, and general-purpose computer. Well, I guess you would want to know more about it. However, that aside and let’s narrow down to six pioneering women who have been part of the game in developing modern computers. The following women had a better share of the pie in developing the ENIAC: Snyder Holberton, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum, Frances Bilas Spence.
The six women played a significant role in developing the ENIAC. Specifically, they came up with the first program for the army. Each of them has excellent histories in the computing fields. For instance, Jean Bartik held an honor as a Computer pioneer by the IEEE computer society. She and Betty Holberton achieved the same honors though in different years. More precisely, Jean was inducted as a member of the Computer History Museum among founders of the Linux operating system and the Ethernet, Linus Torvalds, and Bob Metcalfe, respectively. Due to their mathematics abilities, the women’s recruitment into the army was purposefully for calculating ballistic trajectories.
However, within the war period, the women realized the need for faster calculations as some of the trajectory calculations became more complex. Therefore, the need for a highly experimental project drove them into developing the ENIAC. For simplification and automation of ballistics equations, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator served to be resourceful. With no programming language, compiler, or manual involved, the six tried a range of solutions to go about everything in the ENIAC programming. It was a difficult programming hurdle, but the women managed to source every resourceful data crucial for the army project.
Conclusion
The current world should embrace women in technology (an activity that some organizations are trying to adopt. Regardless of the achievements they acquire daily in the computing sphere, it is also essential to avoid leaning on one side in computing matters. Precisely, women have achieved a lot in tech, but unfortunately, some of their achievements end up unrecognized. From these critical women pillars in tech, we can be sure of women’s potential in modern computing. If you see your future in this, check out computer science capstone project ideas and try changing the future for the better!