The internet is such a staple in our lives. Yet, we rarely acknowledge the women in tech whose innovations helped shape it.
Why it matters: Recognizing women’s achievements is vital for inspiring future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM. By acknowledging their contributions, we broaden perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and foster an inclusive tech industry.
In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s explore the stories of three women whose work was fundamental in getting us to where we are today.
Ada Lovelace – The World’s First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace, renowned as the world’s first computer programmer, blazed a trail in the 19th century with her pioneering work at the intersection of mathematics and technology.
- Lovelace, the daughter of British poet Lord Byron and mathematician Lady Byron, inherited a unique blend of artistic and scientific talents from her parents.
- At 18, she impressed Cambridge mathematician Charles Babbage with her proposal of an algorithm for the “Analytical Engine,” considered by many to be the first computer program.
- Her visionary insights into the potential of computers as more than mere calculators laid the foundation for modern computing concepts.
While her ideas felt like science fiction then, everything Lovelace predicted has now come true.
Annie Easley – One of NASA’s First African American Programmers and Rocket Scientists
Born in 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, amidst an era of strict racial segregation, Annie Easley emerged as a trailblazer in space exploration and computer science.
- Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Easley recognized the power of literacy and voting, assisting African American friends in passing the literacy test required to vote.
- Inspired by an article about twin sisters working as “human computers” for NASA’s predecessor, NACA, Easley applied and became one of only four African Americans on staff.
- Her groundbreaking work on the high-energy booster rocket Centaur facilitated modern spaceflight as we know it today.
Easley’s pioneering contributions advanced technology and paved the way for future generations of diverse scientists and engineers.
Muriel Cooper – A Pioneer of Digital Design
A trailblazing graphic designer, educator, and researcher, Muriel Cooper played a pivotal role in bridging the realms of print-based and computational designs.
- As the first design director for the MIT Press and co-founder of the Visible Language Workshop at MIT, Cooper was a pioneering figure in design education and practice.
- Notably, she designed the iconic MIT Press logo and produced groundbreaking works such as The Bauhaus and Learning from Las Vegas, demonstrating her expertise in both print and emerging digital mediums.
Cooper’s legacy continues to inspire and influence the intersection of design and technology, leaving an indelible mark on graphic design and computational design.
Never Forget
Algorithms, computers, rockets, design: women in tech have done it all, laying the foundation for the digital and online experience we all take for granted today.
These pioneers faced incredible adversity to do so only to be then forgotten by the pages of our history books. That is something we cannot allow to continue to happen, either with the women innovators of our past or with the creative leaders of our present.
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