Archive for the 'Technology' Category
Posted May 3, 2007 at 1:14 AM | Tagged as: GHC, Technology, Web Stuff, Women! | Comments Off
The new Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology site went live earlier today. Please check it out and let me know what you think!
The production of this site has been one of my labors of love over the past year and I’m so honored that the Institute, whose mission is near and dear to my heart, chose KimmieCorp to create their new Web presence. But I didn’t work alone:
- Phoebe Espiritu did all of the UI and Visual Design work, and without her efforts, this site wouldn’t look anywhere near as elegant and engaging as it does.
- Erica Rios, ABI’s Internet Project Manager, deserves huge kudos for persuading ABI to undergo this redesign, and for working so diligently to see it through.
- Eric Mason and Deborah Alexander, the ABI Communications team, were also key in giving design direction and in posting content.
Thanks to everyone above for their great work, plus to everyone else at ABI (including their volunteers) for their trust and cooperation!
Folks, here’s a public service reminder: There are plenty of other non-profit and volunteer organizations out there that need help and advice when it comes to creating a functional, usable, accessible and stylish Web site… so find one that you’re committed to and get to work! The organization will have a site that communicates their message in a compelling manner, and you’ll have work that you can be proud of. It’s great when doing good is a win-win.
Posted March 11, 2007 at 2:40 PM | Tagged as: Just Sayin, SxSW, Technology, Women! | 4 Comments
I’ll have more to say about other aspects of SXSW later, but I wanted to say that the Non-Developers to Open Source Acolytes: Tell Me Why I Care panel was the best panel I’ve ever been to at SXSW. The audience was diverse (about 50/50!) and engaged, and we had a discussion that even enlightened me about something I thought I knew quite a bit about.
Thank you, Elisa Camahort, for organizing such an interesting and engaging panel. Now I really want to attend BlogHer because I’m sure you organize a kick-ass conference.
It was also really wonderful to hear from Annalee Newitz (co-editor of the very awesome She’s Such a Geek), Dawn Foster, and my friend Erica Rios. Erica made poignant references to women’s involvement in creating technology and to the opportunities available to women via open source, which received a round of applause. Needless to say, that discussion needs to be continued.
Note to Hugh Forrest: Bring back Elisa as a moderator — or maybe as a keynote?! — and bring back these panelists to continue a discussion that brought everyone to the table!
Posted March 8, 2007 at 2:06 PM | Tagged as: Industry Events, SxSW, Technology, Travel, Web Standards, Web Stuff, Women! | Just 1 Comment
Alrighty folks, it’s SXSW time.
Come to the WaSP Annual Meeting where we’ll tell you what we’ve been up to, and where we’ll be Takin’ it to the Street on Monday, March 12 at 5 PM.
My AOL pals are doing another “How to Convince Your Company” panel, this time on embracing mashup culture. And Arun is also doing a browser wars panel, and I honestly can’t think of anyone else who’d be better at leading such a discussion.
I was surprised to learn that PayPal is also getting involved in SXSW, by sponsoring an evening event: the PayPal SXSW Showdown. I’m going to meet the organizer later today and find out what it’s all about. If you want to attend, be sure to RSVP!
Other stuff I’m looking forward to…
If you see me, stop me and say hello!
Posted February 21, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Geekout, People I Admire, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
Woo hoo! From the latest ACM Press Release (emphasis mine):
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, has named Frances E. Allen the recipient of the 2006 A.M. Turing Award for contributions that fundamentally improved the performance of computer programs in solving problems, and accelerated the use of high performance computing. This award marks the first time that a woman has received this honor. The Turing Award, first presented in 1966, and named for British mathematician Alan M. Turing, is widely considered the “Nobel Prize in Computing.” It carries a $100,000 prize, with financial support provided by Intel Corporation.
Congratulations, Fran! (See my pictures of Fran at GHC 2004.)
Over at USA Today, Kevin Maney has a great article on Fran. He tells her story and comments on the lack of women in technology fields at the same time.
Maney writes, “Allen, now retired from IBM Research, started in computing in 1957 — a time when tech companies, believe it or not, seemed like wide-open and exciting places for women to build careers.” This echoes the sentiments expressed to me by Milly Koss last year, when she told me the story of how she was hired by Eckert-Mauchley just after getting engaged (typically a death knoll for a woman trying to start a career in the 50’s).
I love how Maney confronts the hype around girls and women not being suited for math and science — head on. “First of all, it’s ridiculous to suggest that girls are less predisposed to math and science. Allen is not a freak of nature. Instead, something happened to the technology profession — and to public attitudes about it — to scare off girls.” I couldn’t agree more.
I remember first learning about Fran Allen, back when I was an undergrad. (Deepak encouraged us to learn about the history of computer science and, in particular, about the role of women in its history.) Ever since, she’s been a role model to me, and I know she’s been a role model and mentor to many other women as well. I’m so excited for her to receive this award, not only because it acknowledges her valuable contributions and dedication to the field, but also because it will make her story better known to scores of people (especially young women) considering a career in computing.
Posted January 29, 2007 at 9:10 AM | Tagged as: Technology, Women!, Work | Comments Off
Via eWeek, we learn that the gender wage gap in tech is narrowing (from 10.9% to 9.7%) and that, in certain areas, women are earning more than their male counterparts!
Finally, some good news about women in tech. It seems that recent articles on women in tech have mainly focused on the number of women leaving careers in technology. Of course, I wonder when those articles are penned by men — they frequently cite what I consider to be bogus reasons for women leaving (things like “male counterparts too techy” and “not willing to work long hours”). Is it possible that these authors stir up this hype in an effort to scare away women? I think so.. since I’ve never heard of any woman leaving a job solely because of the hours being too long or because they weren’t geeky enough to get along. Honestly, I doubt that most men could fully understand the reasons why a woman would choose to leave a job… but that’s a whole other discussion…
Anyway, knowing that one has a better chance of being paid equally, I hope that more women will opt in to technology education and careers. More women are certainly needed, and most places I’ve worked, I know they’d be most welcome!
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