Mary Ann Wilkes: Developer of the First Operating System

Mary Wilkes was born in 1937 in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Wellesley College, class of 1959. She got her undergraduate degree in philosophy and then supposedly on a dare from her eighth ­grade geography teacher, she took up computer programming.

• She was the first person to design and work on a computer privately at home in 1965 and is regarded as the first home computer user.
• Conceptualized and implemented the first operating system
• Developed the assembler-linker model used in modern program compilers.

Mary Anne Wilkes is a former computer programmer and hardware engineer, most known for her work with LINC.(MIT's Lincoln Laboratory)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Wilkes worked in the MIT Lincoln Laboratory from 1959 to 1963, where she worked with some early computers, like the IBM 709 and the TX­2. While there, she simulated the LINC, what would become the first minicomputer, on the 

TX­2. She designed the console and the first operating system for LINC and continued to design many operating systems for LINC, all named beginning with "LAP" up to the LAP6. She then authored the LAP6 Handbook and co­-authored Programming with LINC with Wesley A. Clark. 

In 1965, she designed and used a computer in her home, and is usually considered to be the first home computer user. 

Washington University

In 1965, Wilkes left MIT and began working at the Computer Systems Laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis. In St. Louis, she designed the multiply macromodule. 

Mary Allen Wilkes was a woman computer engineer who made her mark in what was a very male­ dominated 

field in the 1950s and 60s. Even though Mary Wiles had since retired from the computer science field and pursed a career in law, she is one of many women that have made major contributions to a fast growing technological existence, which continues to open doors for the women after her. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmv6p8hN0xQ

Tracy Chou: Software Engineer at Pinterest

Tracy Chou has worked hard throughout her career focusing on her software engineering skills. Most of the work she has done is in the social networking industry.

·        2007 She was a Google Intern
·        2008 She was a Facebook Intern
·        2009 She received her bachelor’s degree at Stanford University
·        2010 She received her masters at Stanford University
·        2010-11 she was the Quora engineer
·        She is the Pinterest engineer since 2011

According to linked in she is currently working in San Francisco, California. She started working at Pinterest in 2011 she states in an interview on The Muse, why she likes working for the company.

“I think it’s kind of exciting to be defining this new product. It’s not just about building this really cool product from the ground up but also building a team around it and thinking about those organizational challenges and how to scale out that team and preserve that culture. Joining Pinterest now is a really fabulous opportunity to build a product that can change a lot of people lives for the better. It is something that we hope don’t just use but actually love. There is so opportunity ahead of us it is a little freighting and very exciting at the same time,” described Tracy Chou.

Women opening up the opportunity’s in the in computer industry to say women are empowered to make a different. Tracy Chou’s career development can gives a lot of value to the importance of why women should go into the computer industry. It is always about building networking but changing the way things are developed.

As the world continues to become more connected through technology, social networking it is essential to our development into careers, organizations, lifestyles to have these websites. Everything is connected online. Tracy Chou is one of the biggest affects to our community by working with the different online social networks and is an aspiration to us all. Google, Facebook, Quora and Pinterest all have extensive works that she has developed with her software engineering.

Work Cited:

http://www.quora.com/Tracy-Chou

https://www.themuse.com/companies/pinterest/people/tracy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/triketora

An interview with a woman in computing.

 Rosann Hunt has been working in the professional realm of computing for over 17 years. She has been in both management positions and under other professionals as a computer programmer. I asked her a series of questions to better give us an insight into the world of a woman in computing. 

1. Why did you choose to work in this field?

I chose the Computer Science Field because of my older sister had been in IT world for many years. She was always able to have work and advanced in her salary each year.

Can you explain exactly what you do day in and day out?

I am responsible for the enhancement and system design of the software that allows the company to stay in business. I currently am working on an IBM mainframe platform programming in the language of COBOL.  Also writing specifications documentation and testing of enhancements from out side resources.

2. What are the top three challenges you have faced as a computer programmer?

Moving from position to position  due to new responsibilities

Moving from  platform to platform learning new systems and software.

Keeping up with new technologies as they are very changing.

3. Have you faced any specific issues being a woman in your field that you would not have faced if you were a man?

I was employed as an IT Programming Manager and an new CIO(Chief Info Officer) was hired and he was just too friendly and treated me as if I were a dumb blonde and too stupid to offer anything further in my position.

4. Can you recall any situations in your career where being a woman either helped or hindered your professional experience?

Not really

5. Are the majority of your coworkers male or female in your field?

Male

6. Would you suggest this profession to any person?

Most assuredly!! This is the only job I know of that has to do exactly as I programmed!!

7. What is the biggest blessing you have received for either your family or yourself from being a computer programmer?

The logic skills to see the whole picture in most situations.

8. Is there anything you would change in your field to better assist other women who are involved in professional computing?

The pay for women has been less compared to men. If feel a person should be paid for there abilities they bring to a company not if they are male or female

9. Any other gems of wisdom you may want to spread along...?

Life is to short to be in a job you hate so if that’s you find  away to do something you love because then it won’t be a job but an adventure!!!

Whatever job you are in always do your best !!

In every field any person can excel, no matter their sex, age, or ethnicity. I love how after 17 years of working hard in her field, Mrs. Hunt still loves her job and encourages others to work hard on their dreams. Women in computing and every profession in life face all of the same pressures and struggles, what we make of them as women is the real challenge. 

In the Beginning: The History of Women in Computing

In the Beginning:  The History of Women in Computing
When we hear the words invention, achievement, and or accomplishment, we may automatically associate or relate these words that seem to indicate that success, on some level, has been attained as a direct result of, and we, or our society in general, tend to pair these words or themes, with men, perhaps because of their perceived dominance. Men run corporations, so to hear of a woman running the helm, could be seen as quite ambiguous.  

Throughout history, women have played very important roles relative to aiding in establishing and or protecting our very existence.  During World War II, women manged and programmed the first computing systems.  Opposite to more difficult sciences, the first users and programmers of computers were predominantly female.  However, many milestones and achievements reached by early women pioneers in computing have been ignored and omitted, purposely, primarily based on the fact that historically, women's contributions were seen as being less than worthy, therefore, the wasn't a need to recognize.

Top 10 Careers for Women in Computing

Powerful Women in the Tech World

                                                Information found from She ++. (Agarwal)

·         The CEO of Yahoo is Marissa Mayer’s.

·         The COO of Facebook is Sheryl Sandberg.

·         Software Engineer at Pinterest is Tracy Chou

·         Director of engineering at Facebook is Jocelyn Goldfein

Statistics show that the women in the computer technology field have been dropping for the last couple of decades. Harvard is trying to close the gap between men and women by introducing powerful women in the technology world to young women. Women are quickly realizing that the rights between men and women are still not equal especially in the technical world. Stated on Harvard Gazette, “’ When I was growing up, I thought the gender war was over and women had won. But it’s still not over,’ said Amy Yin’ 14, co-founder of Harvard Women in Computer Science,” (Chuck Leddy).

Job Searching

Top 10 Job Titles for Computer Science Majors

1.       Software Engineer – is a developer of software, and all of the components that go into it.

2.       System Engineer -  develops a complex system design for a project

3.       Software Developer – developer the software that make a computer or other type of operator run.

4.       Java Developer – someone familiar with Java Programing language and develops networks with it.

5.       Business Analyst – someone analyzing an organization with technology

6.       .NET Developer

7.       Web Developer – website creator  

8.       System Administrator- is responsible for the maintenance of a computer system

9.       Project Manager (Computer and Information System Manager) – Working with and organization or company, this person will be in charge of making sure that the computers are running smoothly.

10.   Network Engineer- develops a network design and reviews it reliability

Career Planning

More Computer Science Careers

·         Computer System Analyst- create efficient outlook for employers system

·         Computer Programmer- develops the processor and design to a program. (tells the system what to do)

·         Computer Support Specialists- Solves computer issues  

·         Web Developer- create the functions of the website and design.

·         Web Master- Keeps track of website and components such as information and visuals.

Works Cited

Agarwal, Ellora Israni and Ayna. "She++ Collected Statistics on Women in Technology ." PDF. July 2012. http://sheplusplus.stanford.edu/sheStatistics.pdf.

Chuck Leddy, Harvard Correspondent. "Closing the gender gap in computer science ." 11 Febuary 2014. Harvard Gazette . http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/02/closing-the-gender-gap-in-computer-science/. 1 April 2014.

Doyle, Alison. "Top 10 Jobs for Computer Science Majors ." 7 January 2014. ABOUT Job Searching . http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2014/01/07/top-10-jobs-for-computer-science-majors.htm. 1 April 2014.

McKay, Dawn Rosenberg. "Computer Science Careers." May 2011. ABOUT Career Planning . http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/a/computercareers.htm. 1 April 2014.