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Today in History – February 14, 1946 – ENIAC, the world’s first digital electronic computer, is unveiled. ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer – the world’s first operational, general purpose, electronic digital computer, developed at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania. The ENIAC and the invention of the computer is considered one of the most influential and pervasive developments coming out of World War II.
The history of computing owes much to contributions of talented women. Ada Byron Lovelace is credited first envisioning programming with her statement: “The analytical engine weaves algebraic patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves”. Six of the ENIAC programmers were women at the University of Pennsylvania during World War II who had been calculating ballistics trajectories by hand. Admiral Grace Hopper, inventor of the first computer compiler, coined the term “computer bug” and is the namesake for the Grace Hopper Conference – Celebration of Women in Computing.
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Alas women now only represent a small fraction of computer science graduates and are not fully representd in the world of information technology and computing. This is one reason I enthusiastically agreed to co-found and serve as founding CEO of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) with the overarching goal to achieve parity in the professional information technology (IT) workforce and to educate, disseminate, and advocate a national, multi-year implementation plan that generates tangible progress within 20 years.
Why is this issue important? Innovation thrives with a diversity of ideas and input. As IT becomes pervasive in our lives, we need women’s full participation in the the creation of the technology upon which our society increasingly depends. Further, U.S. Department of Labor projections forecast that our economy will add 1 million professional IT jobs by 2014. In the aftermath of the dot-com bust, however, the perception of a job shortage has caused a sharp decline in enrollment at 4 year computer science programs. Women’s lack of participation results in ideas not realized, products not implemented and jobs going unfilled.
NCWIT is a coalition of over 100 universities, corporations and non-profits who all feel we can and must do a better job of attracting women to computing. We are working on interventions across the entire educational and career pipeline, including new ideas in curriculum, outreach, recruiting and retention. We are also studying women’s participation in key innovation metrics such as IT patenting, open source and entrepreneurship.
See the Engineering Pathway’s educational resources on the ENIAC, history of computing, Ada Lovelace and women in information technology. For curricular resources, visit the Computer Science Education, Information Science Education, Information Technology Education, Computer Engineering Education of Software Engineering Education community sites.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Jono // Feb 15, 2008 at 8:39 am
Thanks Lucy, that was really interesting.
It’s interesting how war can have effects we couldn’t have anticipated. I wonder what may come out of the Iraq wars as we look back on them from 50 years.
And I think we should rescue Ada Lovelace’s weave metaphor for computing. It’s much more poetic than say, compiling or running.
2 Paul Mackinney // Feb 15, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I was a grad student at Mills College, where many of my instructors and most of my peers were women. Note that the Jacquard loom referenced by Ada Lovelace used punch cards to store and transmit the patterns, her remark is as factual as it is metaphoric.
3 Larry Genalo // Feb 26, 2008 at 6:39 pm
While this is an interesting story about women and their role in early computer development. One major point should be made. The ABC Computer, named for Atanasoff and Berry who invented it at Iowa State University in 1939, was the world’s first digital, electronic computer. Although it was not “general purpose” since it solved systems of equations, it was the first as was demonstrated in a court case. Here’s a quote from an article about early computers. “For a variety of reasons (including Mauchly’s June 1941 examination of the Atanasoff–Berry Computer, prototyped in 1939 by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry), the patent for the ENIAC, granted in 1964, was voided by the 1973 decision of the landmark federal court case Honeywell v. Sperry Rand, putting the invention of the electronic digital computer in the public domain and providing legal recognition to Atanasoff as the inventor of the electronic digital computer.”
4 Engineering Education Blog: Women in Engineering // Mar 21, 2008 at 12:58 pm
[...] Sanders, CEO of the Center for Women in Information Technology blogged on the unveiling of the ENIAC on February 14, 1946, the world’s first digital electronic computer, as well as on the contributions of women in [...]
5 Engineering Education Blog: Mary Kies is First Woman to Receive U.S. Patent // Jul 31, 2008 at 6:05 am
[...] Sanders, CEO of the Center for Women in Information Technology blogs on the unveiling of the ENIAC on February 14, 1946, the world’s first digital electronic computer, as well as on the contributions of women in [...]
6 Engineering Education Blog: Inventors, Innovators and Patents // Jul 31, 2008 at 6:53 am
[...] Sanders, CEO of the Center for Women in Information Technology blogs on the unveiling of the ENIAC on February 14, 1946, the world’s first digital electronic computer, as well as on the contributions of women in [...]
7 Engineering Education "Today in History" Harvard Mark I largest electromechanical calculator ever built // Aug 7, 2008 at 8:09 am
[...] was unveiled. Six of the ENIAC programmers were the women seen in the second photo, above left. See Lucy Sanders February 14th blog on this event and its connection to women in [...]
8 » Engineering Education "Today in History" Harvard Mark I largest electromechanical calculator ever built » NSDL Pathways News // Aug 7, 2008 at 8:35 am
[...] was unveiled. Six of the ENIAC programmers were the women seen in the second photo, above left. See Lucy Sanders February 14th blog on this event and its connection to women in [...]
9 » Engineering Education "Today in History" Blog: Voyager 1 takes first photo of our solar system » NSDL Pathways News // Feb 13, 2009 at 9:05 pm
[...] Also on this date in 1946, ENIAC, the world’s first digital electronic computer, is unveiled. See Lucy Sander’s related blog on ENIAC and Women in Computing. [...]
10 Engineering Education "Today in History" Blog: Voyager 1 takes first photo of our solar system // Feb 14, 2009 at 12:06 am
[...] Also on this date in 1946, ENIAC, the world’s first digital electronic computer, is unveiled. See Lucy Sander’s related blog on ENIAC and Women in Computing. [...]
11 360gsp // Feb 26, 2009 at 4:05 am
Very nice read. Thank you for the information.
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