Pioneers in Computing and IT — Quick Reference

Ada Lovelace

  • Born in 18151815; mother Anna Milbanke educated her in mathematics.
  • Observed the Difference Engine and published notes with the first computer algorithm for the Analytical Engine in 18431843.
  • Predicted computers would be used beyond mathematics (e.g., composing music) and influence society.

Alan Turing

  • Born in 19121912.
  • Concept of the Turing machine; defined computation and its limits.
  • Seed of computer science; predecessor of modern programs via the Turing machine.
  • WWII: helped develop the Turing-Welchman Bombe to decipher codes.
  • Postwar: Imitation Game (Turing test) for evaluating AI.

Margaret Hamilton

  • Born in 19361936; developed weather-predicting software at MIT.
  • Later contributed software for NASA Apollo command and lunar modules.
  • Coined the term "software engineering".
  • Formalized learning into the Universal System Language.

Grace Hopper

  • Born in 19061906; WWII Navy Reserve, worked on the Mark I project.
  • Advocated programming with English words; led to FLOW-MATIC and the first compiler.
  • Credited with first use of the term "computer bug" (a moth).
  • Contributed to COBOL, a language still in use today.

NASA and the Human Computers

  • Annie Easley: energy analytics code for power tech; Centaur rockets and early hybrid vehicles.
  • Katherine Johnson: physicist/mathematician; calculations for the first Earth orbit and Apollo 11.
  • Dorothy Vaughan: first African American supervisor of NACA; FORTRAN programmer; Scout Launch Vehicle Program.
  • Mary Jackson: NASA's first Black female engineer; wind tunnel and flight experiments; senior engineering title.
  • Melba Roy Mouton: Head Mathematician; Project Echo; calculated trajectories for aircraft.
  • Evelyn Boyd Granville: worked on Apollo and Mercury programs; celestial mechanics and trajectory computation.

Innovators in Modern Technology

  • Hedy Lamarr: born in 19141914; actress and self-taught inventor; frequency-hopping radio signal concept influencing WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS.
  • Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena: born in 19171917; patented color-adapter for monochrome cameras; early form of color TV; supported NASA Voyager imagery of Jupiter.
  • Gerald (Jerry) Lawson: born in 19401940; Fairchild Channel F; interchangeable game cartridges; called the "father of the video game cartridge."
  • Mark E. Dean: born in 19571957; IBM PC team lead; held three PC patents; helped develop first gigahertz chip and color PC monitor; ISA bus co-developer.
  • Clarence "Skip" Ellis: born in 19431943; pioneer in Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Groupware; OfficeTalk; contributed to GUIs and ethernet-based collaboration.
  • Gladys West: born in 19301930; mathematician modeling Earth's shape; basis for GPS.

These individuals are a few notable examples, but this is by no means a complete list!