Tag: Pioneers in Tech

Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Fred Begay, the first Navajo to earn a PhD in physics

Pioneers in Tech: Fred Begay, the first Navajo to earn a PhD in physics

Native American Heritage Month, celebrated annually in November, provides an opportunity to examine and recognize the work of indigenous peoples in technology history. One of these Pioneers in Tech is Fred Begay, the first Navajo to earn a PhD in physics....

/ November 8, 2024
pioneers in tech
Pioneers in Tech: Dorothy Vaughn, one of the women of Apollo

Pioneers in Tech: Dorothy Vaughn, one of the women of Apollo

The woman who became NASA’s first Black manager was honored in July with the renaming of a central building at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Learn all about her trailblazing career in this edition of Pioneers in Tech! On...

/ September 13, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: How Barbara Liskov revolutionized computer science

Pioneers in Tech: How Barbara Liskov revolutionized computer science

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1961 from the University of California, Berkeley, Barbara Liskov applied to graduate school at Princeton University. In response to her application, Liskov received a form letter informing her the school didn’t accept...

/ August 9, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Nikola Tesla’s vision for wireless communication

Pioneers in Tech: Nikola Tesla’s vision for wireless communication

This edition of Pioneers in Tech looks at the legend of Nikola Tesla—not only do electric cars bear his name, but also his alternating-current (AC) electric system remains the basis of electricity today. Plus, the “Tesla coil” he invented is...

/ July 12, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Nicholas Metropolis & and the MANIAC

Pioneers in Tech: Nicholas Metropolis & and the MANIAC

While not the namesake of an Academy Award-winning film, “Nicholas Metropolis” is a name you’re not likely to forget once you’ve read this edition of Pioneers in Tech. Born on June 11, 1915, in Chicago, Nicholas Constantine Metropolis was recruited...

/ June 14, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: An Wang, a key player in technology’s core memories

Pioneers in Tech: An Wang, a key player in technology’s core memories

The layperson might not immediately name An Wang as a 20th-century technical giant, but we certainly should. The Chinese American computer engineer invented the magnetic pulse transfer controlling device, which, as you will learn in this edition of Pioneers in...

/ May 10, 2024
Pioneers in Tech: Happy birthday to Chief Yahoo David Filo

Pioneers in Tech: Happy birthday to Chief Yahoo David Filo

You’ve heard of Ben and Jerry, but are you as familiar with Jerry and David? Unless you’re a keen watcher of Silicon Valley, perhaps not. But the website founded in 1994 as “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide...

/ April 12, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Carol Shaw, Atari video game designer

Pioneers in Tech: Carol Shaw, Atari video game designer

“I was good at math. I entered a bunch of math contests and won awards. Of course, people would say, “Gee, you’re good at math—for a girl. That was kind of annoying. Why shouldn’t girls be good at math?” This...

/ March 8, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Gladys West, the “hidden figure” of GPS

Pioneers in Tech: Gladys West, the “hidden figure” of GPS

We all rely on GPS nearly every day and may frequently marvel at how much easier it makes life. (Think about it: When was the last time you were lost?) But how often do we think about the people behind...

/ February 9, 2024
Pioneers in Tech: Aaron Swartz, co-developer of RSS

Pioneers in Tech: Aaron Swartz, co-developer of RSS

When you consider the life story of Aaron Swartz, many questions come to mind. Most notably, what if? What if Swartz had lived past age 26? What might have he accomplished? Let’s take a closer look at this month’s edition...

/ January 12, 2024