Member-only story

Women Who Launched the Computer Age: A Forgotten Story of Pioneering Codebreakers and Code Writers

Geoffrey Blair

·5.3k Followers· Follow

Published in Women Who Launched The Computer Age

5 min read · 3 weeks before

576 View Claps

31 Respond

Save

Listen

In a time when computers were still in their infancy, before the days of personal computers and the internet, there were a group of women who played a pivotal role in shaping the future of computing. These women were codebreakers, code writers, and programmers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop the first computers and the software that ran them.

Their stories are largely untold, but their contributions to the field of computing are immeasurable. They were the pioneers who laid the foundation for the digital age we live in today.

Women Who Launched the Computer Age

by Laurie Calkhoven

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	12296 KB
Print length	:	48 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The Codebreakers

During World War II, a group of women at Bletchley Park, a secret British intelligence center, worked tirelessly to break the German Enigma code. This code was used by the Germans to encrypt their military communications, and breaking it was crucial to the Allied victory.

Among the codebreakers at Bletchley Park were Joan Clarke, Margaret Rock, and Mavis Batey. These women were brilliant mathematicians and linguists who used their skills to decipher the Enigma code. Their work helped to shorten the war and save countless lives.

The Code Writers

After the war, many of the women who had worked at Bletchley Park went on to work in the field of computing. They were instrumental in the development of the first computers, including the ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer.

One of the most famous women in computing is Grace Hopper. Hopper was a mathematician and computer scientist who is credited with developing the first compiler, a program that translates human-readable code into machine-readable code. Her work made it much easier for programmers to develop software.

Another important figure in the field of computing is Ada Lovelace. Lovelace was a mathematician and writer who is considered to be the first computer programmer. She wrote a set of instructions for the Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer designed by Charles Babbage. Lovelace's work laid the foundation for modern computer programming.

The Programmers

In the early days of computing, programmers were responsible for writing all of the code that ran on computers. This was a complex and time-consuming task, and it was often done by hand. Women programmers played a major role in the development of early computer software.

One of the most important women programmers was Betty Jennings. Jennings was a programmer on the ENIAC team, and she helped to develop some of the first software for the computer. Jennings' work helped to make the ENIAC a success, and it paved the way for the development of modern computing.

The Legacy

The women who launched the computer age have left a lasting legacy on the world. Their work helped to make computers a reality, and it laid the foundation for the digital age we live in today. These women were pioneers in the field of computing, and their stories should be remembered and celebrated.

If you are interested in learning more about the women who launched the computer age, I highly recommend reading the book Women Who Launched the Computer Age: Untold Stories of the Acerbic Codebreakers and Code Writers Who Made the Digital Revolution Possible by Kathleen Broome.

This book tells the stories of some of the most important women in the history of computing. It is a fascinating and inspiring read that will give you a new appreciation for the role that women have played in the development of technology.

Women Who Launched the Computer Age

by Laurie Calkhoven

4.7 out of 5