Video: Where Have the Women of Tech History Gone?

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Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lamarr, the 'ENIAC Girls,' Grace Hopper, Joan Clarke... Stemming from the role of a calculator, the profession of a developer was initially considered a women's job, while hardware design was seen as a man's job. However, who are these women who have shaped the world of tech? Why don't we hear more about them? With Laura Durieux, you'll attempt to set the record straight bit by bit and provide role models in tech that you've always needed.

This talk has been presented at React Summit US 2024, check out the latest edition of this React Conference.

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Video summary
Hi everyone and welcome to my talk about the women in the history of computer science. I want to pay tribute to women who have done fantastic work in computer science. The history of computer science begins in 1840 with Ada Lovelace, who invented the concept behind the analytical engine and provided the first algorithms. Women played a significant role in early computing, such as the programmers of the ENIAC. Grace Hopper made significant contributions to the field, including the development of COBOL. Women have made significant contributions to artificial intelligence, such as Karen Spike Jones and her development of the TF-IDF method. It is important to highlight women in the tech field and provide role models for young girls. The talk aims to inspire and encourage.

FAQ

Laura became interested in women in computer science after noticing the lack of women presented in her art history class syllabus during college, which led her to question why women are not considered a required basis in many fields.

Nicole Leporte was one of the most famous astronomers of the Age of Enlightenment and was one of the first women quoted in articles about computer science history. She helped calculate the return date of Halley's Comet.

Laura Durieux, also known as devgirloninternet, is a full-stack web developer, streamer on Twitch, and show presenter on RTBFxP, the public national media of Belgium.

On Twitch and YouTube, follow devgirl with one underscore. On Twitter, use two underscores, and on Instagram, there are three underscores.

Ada Lovelace is significant because she invented the concept behind the analytical engine by providing the first algorithms, making her the first programmer and often regarded as the mother of computer science.

The Harvard Computers, a group of women, listed over 10,000 stars and developed a system to describe them. Annie Jump Cannon, a member of the group, pioneered a new spectral type classification system still used today.

Grace Hopper was instrumental in the development of the Mark I computer, wrote its user manual, and contributed to the creation of COBOL, a universal language for computers. She also introduced the concept of software portability.

The Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) is a secret communication system invented by Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil for launching radio-controlled torpedoes. This technology is still used today in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The ENIAC programmers were six women: Kathleen McNulty-Antonelli, Marlene Westcuff-Melzer, Betty Jean Jennings, Frances Spence, Betty Halburton, and Ruth Tatel-Bone. They were among the first programmers and played a crucial role during World War II.

Karen Spike Jones is a scientist and researcher in computer science known for her work in natural language processing and information retrieval. She developed the TF-IDF method used by search engines for SEO.

Laura Durieux
Laura Durieux
29 min
22 Nov, 2024

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