Posted March 17, 2008 at 10:47 AM | Tagged as: Computing, Geekout, Robots, Technology | Comments Off
Via the Institute for Personal Robots in Education:
We’re pleased to let you know that the robot platform we developed for CS-1 instruction is now available for purchase.
The $149.95 platform includes a Parallax Scribbler robot, with an add on board developed at Georgia Tech. The complete diff-drive robot then includes: a color camera, bluetooth connectivity, a speaker, light sensors, and line sensors.
The robot can be controlled and programmed from a PC in Python using the Myro package developed at Bryn Mawr (included with the robot).
It is all part of our new curriculum for CS-1 centered on a robot context. The new textbook is also available online at our website.
Posted November 26, 2007 at 10:01 AM | Tagged as: Technology, Women! | Just 1 Comment
I’ve been monitoring the flap at ComputerWorld over a post about the employ of scantily-clad women at a booth at ITXpo, and I have to say that, after plenty of dismissive responses from many male readers, it’s nice to see that some men will acknowledge how difficult it can be for women in IT. Mark Golden, a ComputerWorld reader, writes:
I’m male and heterosexual, and as far as I’m concerned, any man who doesn’t notice the rampant sexism in this industry needs to have his brain replaced. IT workers must be the raunchiest, dirtiest bunch of overgrown adolescents in the nation… The whole IT culture of gender disparity and social inadequacy infects everything… A woman in a technical position in the IT industry needs more than talent and ability; she needs skin like steel.
What’s even better is that Don Tennant, Editorial Director of ComputerWorld and author of the post that kicked off the hoopla, takes the issue a step further:
I have such a high regard for the IT profession and the leading role it takes in improving our lives that I do indeed feel strongly that it should be a leading advocate for the eradication of all forms of social injustice as well. Does that mean I feel the IT profession is “above these things?” Yes, it certainly does. Then again, I think every profession should be above practices that are dismissive of women or any other group within the profession.
Mr. Tennant even posted an e-mail from reader Rita Thissen (who is also a fellow member of Systers), which should be pretty eye-opening for anyone who doesn’t think that women have issues to deal with in the IT industry.
I’ve always felt fortunate to have come up in IT in predominantly female environments — due in part to having attended and worked at a women’s college, and perhaps also due to the fact that I have worked mostly on the East Coast, where there are more women in IT. But still, I have encountered some pretty blatant sexual harassment… fortunately, my “skin of steel” helped me get through those negative situations without me losing any of the passion I have for my career in technology.
Posted November 16, 2007 at 6:52 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Technology | 4 Comments
Until November 26December 31, you can sponsor One Laptop Per Child by buying an XO laptop for a child in a developing country, and then get another one for yourself. I just got mine… hurry up and get yours!
Posted October 17, 2007 at 11:13 AM | Tagged as: Computing, GHC, Industry Events, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
Another year, another Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing!
This year I’m attending both TechLeaders and GHC. Last night I even got to party with the Tapia folks!
If I have time to write more here, I will… but otherwise watch the GHC flickr group, twitter, and wiki to learn about what’s going on!
Posted June 29, 2007 at 3:19 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
The K-12 Informal Education Hub of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), led by the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), is conducting a three-phase study to determine what experiences or factors influence females to pursue a career in information technology (IT). Study results will help guide efforts to increase the number of women entering IT fields. We would appreciate your help in disseminating the survey to as many technical women as possible. Please forward this email to other women you know working in IT.
Take the survey!
