Inspect for Gadgets

In honour of the WWII General Macarthur bureau female ‘code breakers’ we named this competition – “Inspect for Gadgets”.

Every main image has technology placed, some obvious, some hidden. Your assignment is to number and name all technology items included in the screen goddess photographs.

The LAMARR CODE

In honour of Hedy Lamarr the real world goddess of the silver screen and technologist guru we name this competition the “Lamarr Code” – where you will go on a fact finding mission to locate the hidden message in the calendar – your mission, should you accept it, is to find the month and solve the message.

Model BIOS: Behind the IT Screen Goddess Calendar

The goddesses in this calendar have been actively involved in designing, planning and running traditional projects and programs aimed at encouraging girls to take up technology studies and women to enter IT careers. Many years of voluntary work, time and personal funds have been spent by these goddesses working towards this 'cause'. Some are internationally recognized researchers in this field.

It is that background of knowledge and hands on experience that each goddess brought to the project that confirmed it was time to try a different approach, it was time to get a message broader than the attendees at specific events, it was time to raise awareness regarding careers in technology with peer groups and parents.

Producing the calendar was fun, however the subject matter is far deeper than fun and glamour. It is about recognising that there is an issue with attracting, retaining and promoting women in these fields. It's about the general public knowing that there is a diverse range of women in a wide variety of technology careers and that they absolutely LOVE their lives, and love what they do so much they want to share that passion with others and encourage more females to take up studies and careers.

It's about making a difference.

Two of my Heroes

Hedy Lamarr

The actress who patented spread spectrum in WW11. Today the same technology is used in Cellular & mobile networks

Quotes:

• "Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid."

• "Films have a certain place in a certain time period. Technology is forever."

Dubbed by MGM's Louis B. Mayer as the "most beautiful girl in the world," Lamarr fled the rise of Nazism, leaving her native Austria for Hollywood in 1937.

The most fascinating chapter in her life occurred during World War II, when Lamarr and the avant garde musician George Antheil received a patent for a "secret communications system" intended for use in guiding U.S. Navy torpedoes.

Lamarr and Antheil conceived the idea of "frequency hopping" to quickly shift the radio signals of control devices, making them invulnerable to radio interference or jamming.

Truly ahead of its time, the system was never implemented by the military, in part because the technology of the time was inadequate. The system finally came into its own in the cellular telephone age. Now called "spread spectrum" instead of "frequency hopping," the basic idea is the same

Dispelling the myth that it's impossible to be both smart and sexy, Hedy is an inspiration to beautiful intelligent women everywhere. Interestingly, when advised that her efforts would be better directed towards raising money for the war effort via her massive appeal (as opposed to "hanging around the patent office"), she agreed, raising $USD7 Million at just one event.

For those who see this as evidence of sexism:
This is no way detracts from her achievements. Instead it demonstrates that she was passionately true to her CAUSE - to defeat the Nazis, whatever it took.....albeit via propaganda, fund raising or invention. This is a necessity in times of great adversity & peril. Few who have lived through world wars would disagree.

Technology is only an enabler utilised to achieve a HUMAN objective.
Hedy illustrates this beautifully.


Grace Murray Hopper

Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906 – January 1, 1992) was an American computer scientist and naval officer. Amost important people in the history of computers.

Quotes:

• "Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that. That's why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise."

• "We're flooding people with information. We need to feed it through a processor. A human must turn information into intelligence or knowledge. We've tended to forget that no computer will ever ask a new question."

• "You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership. It might help if we ran the MBAs out of Washington."

Hopper retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Commander at the end of 1966. She was recalled to active duty in August of 1967 for a six-month period that turned into an indefinite assignment. She again retired in 1971 but was asked to return to active duty again in 1972. She was promoted to Captain in 1973 by Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr..

After Rep. Philip Crane saw her on a March 1983 segment of 60 Minutes, he championed a joint resolution in the House of Representatives which led to her promotion to Commodore by special Presidential appointment. By 1985 she became a Rear Admiral, Lower Half. She retired (involuntarily) from the Navy on August 14, 1986. At a celebration held in Boston on the USS Constitution to celebrate her retirement, Hopper was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award possible by the Department of Defense. At the moment of her retirement, she was the oldest officer in the US Navy and aboard the oldest ship in the US Navy.

Bare Unfairness

Australian Senator Kate Lundy has written an insightful opinion piece on the IT Screen Goddess Calendar published in Australian MIS Magazine.

EX"IT" Why Women are Shunning the Technology Industry

The title above runs as the Cover Story, and 7 page feature in the July 27 edition of BRW (Business Review Weekly, Australia) , written by Kath Walters.

This is a balanced, well researched story that restores my faith in journalistic integrity. Short on sensationalism, the article explores the reasons behind the declining female participation in technical professions, most notably within the IT sector.

Extract:

"Boring and Irrelevent" is the headline of the sub-article exploring the opinions of a Year 10 student at a Melbourne Girls School. She says,"Frankly, I have never considered a career in the IT industry because I want to do something in an area that I will enjoy. I perceive the IT industry to be dominated by men, mostly because I have never come across a female IT worker. It seems to me to be an extremely dull job, especially if you are intelligent and capable of doing something better."

"Most young women agree with this view according to a 2005 study undertaken by the James Cook University. The study involved 26 QLD highschools and 1452 girls who either did or did not choose studies of Information Technology at high school.
The Study is the first large investigation into the reasons why girls do not do IT subjects at school. The result of the study underscored the perceptions that IT is boring, irrelevent and because "girls do not like computers". It found that girls perceive IT careers as isolated, alienated from society and unhealthy because they involve "sitting in front of a computer all day". The girls mostly aspired to careers that would help change and improve society - attributes they do not associate with working in IT."

"Skilled Women Needed" is a second sub-article, exploring why Australia needs women in the ICT sector and in other professions and careers. The main points are:

• "A looming skills shortage over the next 24 months, which will worsen over 5 years.
• Global competition across all industries - technology is pervasive in all industries and the foundation of competitive advantage and productivity gains.
• Innovation - Women approach design of technology in a different way from men, and may meet needs not being met.
• The number of businesses owned and managed by women is increasing faster than the average, according to American statistics, and women are often the decision makers on home technology.
• Attracting women to the industry will help arrest the exodus of young men - it is as simple as the birds and the bees
• All industries are now reliant on IT - including those that usually attract women- such as fashion, communications and the arts
• Women will be locked out of the fastest growing and best paid professions if they do not understand and use technology, and they can progress more quickly into more creative roles if they can understand how technology works.
• The stereotype of the geeky technologist who spends all day in front of a computer is becoming redundant. The trend in the industry is towards greater use of skills in which women normally excel, such as analysis, communication and organisation.
• The most senior technology roles in business - Cheif Information Officer - has, over recent years, become one that depends on the ability to communicate and negotiate with business leaders, to understand business strategy, and to plan and manage staff."

Making "IT" happen with Female Techs

Popular Culture/Technology

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Have fun!!