Who Created the Technological World We Live in Today?
Technology is arguably the most important thing to the existence and success of today’s society. Over the last two hundred years technology has gone from being non existent to being the backbone of a successful relationship, business, and life. Thinking long term, technology and the internet is relatively a new development. The first analytical engine that had the ability to be programmed came from the creative minds of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace beginning in 1822. Ada Lovelace was a truly remarkable woman especially for her time. She was not only a pioneer in computer programming but also a pioneer as a woman in the mathematics field, which at this time was extremely groundbreaking for women. An article by Charles McFadden noted her to be “credited with writing the first computer program, thanks to her algorithm for the computation of Bernoulli numbers using the analytical engine”. Lovelace’s contribution to the first computer program was not successful within her lifetime but it did kick-start the creation of each computer program following. McFadden’s article also outlines the next two hundred years of technological advancements. This includes the 1940’s and the creation of “the Colossus” which was the world’s first successful programmable computer and went on to be used in World War II. After this computer was created only great things followed including the creation of Ethernet and email in the 1970’s and then personal computers which eventually led to the rise of social media and technology. The incredibly fast advancements that men and women have made in this age have shocked the world and led us to be a technology based society that functions on the basis of our cell phones, computers, and internet connection.
So, how did we get from a failing computer program in the 1800’s to where we are today? Who got us there? Ada Lovelace may have been the first female computer pioneer however there are so many more who made a vast difference in the world of computer science that we see today. One of the major players includes Mary Allen Wilkes. As a young girl, Wilkes barely knew what a computer was, much less had thoughts about becoming a programmer. In an article from the New York Times titled The Secret History of Women in Coding, Clive Thompson explains that she didn’t have much thought about programming until she was finished with college where she was told that “computers were supposed to be the key to the future”. This propelled her into taking a trip to M.I.T and applying for a job as a computer programmer. During this time, computer programming was a whole new concept. There was no major in college or course you could take to learn to do this, just an understanding of how computers work and a mind that can work intricately solving different puzzles through trial and error. Wilkes put her whole heart into this job and she eventually made her way to not only compete with the men in her field but gain their complete respect. In 1964 came the project of the creation of LINC which was to be the first easy to use, personal computer. Astonishingly, Thompson mentions that “Wilkes was one of the first people on the planet to have a personal computer in her home”. This was in 1964! Less than 60 years ago! It is amazing to me that in less than sixty years the world went from no personal computers in anyone’s home to millions of people having personal computers they can carry in their purse, backpack, and pocket! The history of computer and technology creation and innovation is a long complicated one. However, this history is one in which highlights women and how the female brain can focus on the small details in order to create incredible computer programs. In this way, so many women have changed the world.
In today’s age, when most people think of pioneers of technology and social media they most likely think of Steve Jobs (creator of Apple) and Bill Gates (creator of Microsoft). These two white men were indeed huge players in what our technology looks like today however, these thoughts discount the work of not only female pioneers but also black pioneers in technological evolution. One African American that has particularly stuck out in computer science history is Dr. Philip Emeagwali. Without the work that he did, the world of search engines we all rely on so heavily would not be what it is today. He was a programmer who set out to design the program for the fastest computer on Earth which was inspired by bees. Kind of ironic how such a technological feat was inspired by pure nature huh? In an article from Childnet, Emeagwali said he realized that “he could build computer systems that can work and internally communicate like a beehive”. This thought stuck in his mind as he continued to develop his program to become the way that computers can communicate with each other. This technology that he designed is still used today in our everyday lives through our search engines such as Google and Bing! Without Dr. Philip Emeagwali there would be no easy ability to just ask Google a question. Each time you are curious about a celebrity’s net worth or the capital of a country or the lyrics to a song and you ask your search engine, think of Dr. Philip Emeagwali and how his developments and designs have changed each and every life since then.
From Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace who created the first computer program to Mary Allen Wilkes designing the first ever private computer to Dr. Philip Emeagwali who revolutionized the way search engines operate — all of these names played a key role in the way our technology is used today yet, their names are not highly talked about or recognized in everyday society. Why not? Each of these people and countless others contributed their life’s work to improving and creating the technologies that power our world today. Without them, who knows where we would be. Maybe someone else could have created these things eventually but we don’t know that for sure. Every pioneer mentioned when searching the history of technological creation should be recognized for transforming our world into the incredible network of family, friends, and peers we exist in today.
Resources
Childnet. (2020, October 21). Black inventors and pioneers who have influenced the way we use the internet and technology today. Retrieved February 10, 2021, from https://www.childnet.com/blog/black-inventors-and-pioneers-who-have-influenced-the-way-we-use-the-internet-and-technology-today
McFadden, C. (2020, July 06). A brief history of the WEB: From 17th century computers to today’s DIGITAL EMPIRES. Retrieved February 10, 2021, from https://interestingengineering.com/a-brief-history-of-computing-and-the-web-from-17th-century-computers-to-todays-digital-empires
Sharman, N. (Director). (2017). Calculating Ada — The Countess of Computing [Video file]. Retrieved February 9, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgUVrzkQgds&feature=youtu.be
Thompson, C. (2019, February 13). The secret history of women in coding. Retrieved February 10, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/magazine/women-coding-computer-programming.html
