Lillian Schwartz, pioneer artist and animator, passed away on October 12, 2024
Lillian Schwartz, a pioneering digital artist and animator, passed away on October 12, 2024, at the age of 97 in New York City. She was renowned for her groundbreaking work in computer-generated art and animation, especially during her time at AT&T’s Bell Labs in the late 1960s and 1970s. Schwartz created some of the earliest experimental computer-animated films, such as Pixillation and UFOs. Her work revolutionized the use of computers in art and earned her numerous accolades throughout her career.
Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day: A Legacy of Vision and Possibility
On this Ada Lovelace Day, we honor not only the world’s first computer programmer but also a woman who imagined the impossible. Her pioneering work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine made her the world’s first computer programmer, long before the modern computer existed. But she was so much more than just a mathematician. She foresaw a future where machines could do more than calculate — they could even create music. Her story is a reminder that the future of tech can and must also belong to women.
Remembering Steve Jobs: A Legacy of Innovation and Controversy
As we mark the anniversary of Steve Jobs’ passing, on October 5th 2011, it’s essential to reflect not just on his monumental contributions to technology but also on his often challenging interpersonal relationships. Our episode “Self-Made Billionaires” explores his complicated rivalry with Bill Gates. Additionally, in “The Mother of All Demos,” I visited Historicon to tell how Jobs drew inspiration for the GUI from Xerox PARC, further showcasing the blend of innovation and ethical complexity that defined his career.
On October 2nd, 1955 ENIAC was retired
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), one of the first general-purpose electronic digital computers, was officially retired on October 2nd, 1955, after nearly a decade of service since its completion in 1945. By then, its creators, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, had left to start their own company, and the women who programmed it had moved on to other projects. Nevertheless, ENIAC paved the way for modern computing, leaving an enduring legacy in the field.
Excel turns 39 today!
Excel turns 39 today, which means it’s old enough to have a midlife crisis… but still young enough to crash at the worst possible time!
Did you know that Microsoft released the first version of Microsoft Excel on the Apple Macintosh, on September 30th, 1985? If you want to learn more about the love/hate relationship of the early days of Microsoft and Apple and the dynamics of the Steve Jobs / Bill Gates relationship over the years check out Episode 25 of Season 2.
Women in STEM Cyprus Forum
Breaking the 20% proudly supports the first Women in STEM Cyprus Forum. It is a landmark event dedicated to empowering and advocating for women in STEM fields. To learn more and register visit https://womenintech-cyprus.org/
Goodbye, Lenna. It was about time for you to retire!
Terry Benzel, the Vice-President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society’s technical and conference sector, announced in a notice, “Starting 1 April, new manuscript submissions will no longer be allowed to include the Lena image.”
Honoring Our Heroines: A Special International Women's Day Tribute by "Breaking the 20%"
This International Women's Day, "Breaking the 20%" proudly celebrates the indomitable spirit and groundbreaking contributions of women in technology and computing.
Breaking the 20% Partners with Future Start-Up Founders Programme
We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Future Start-Up Founders Programme, an empowering initiative organized by the CCS under the auspices of the Erasmus+ EU co-funded project, Femme Forward.
Howard Aiken
Howard Aiken was born on March 8, 1900. His groundbreaking work centered around the development of the Harvard Mark I, an electromechanical computer completed in 1944. This is the same machine that Grace Hopper will get to meet later in the same year that set her on the path to becoming The Queen of Code.