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Grace Hopper and the First Computer Bug: How a Moth Changed the Future of Software Engineering

Grace Hopper first computer bug women's day
Grace Hopper first computer bug women's day

Grace Hopper, also known as “Amazing Grace,” is considered one of the pioneers of computer programming. She was a trailblazer for women in technology, and her contribution to the field of computer science is immeasurable. One of Grace Hopper most significant contributions was her discovery of the first computer bug.

From Bug to Brilliance: Grace Hopper and the first computer bug

When you think of the pioneers of computer science, names like Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace may come to mind. But there’s another name that belongs on that list: Grace Hopper.

Calling her the “Mother of Cobol,” she was a pioneer in computer programming . She also played a key role in the development of the first compiler. But perhaps her most enduring legacy is her discovery of the first computer bug.

In 1947, Hopper was working on the Harvard Mark II computer when it started malfunctioning. After several hours of searching, she and her team discovered a moth trapped in one of the relays. Hopper removed the moth and taped it to the computer’s logbook. Next to it she wrote “First actual case of bug being found”.

While the discovery of the moth may seem trivial, it had a significant impact on the field of computer science. Hopper’s use of the term “bug” to describe a technical problem in a computer system quickly caught on. As a consequence it became the term we use to describe any defect or error in a program. Hopper’s discovery also helped to cement the idea that errors in computer systems could be caused by physical defects in the hardware, rather than just errors in the code.

Celebrating Women’s Day by Honoring Grace Hopper

But Hopper’s contributions to computer science didn’t stop with the discovery of the first bug. She went on to become a trailblazer for women in computer science, serving as a role model and mentor for generations of women who followed in her footsteps. She was one of the first female graduates of Yale University’s PhD program in mathematics, and in 1969 she became the first woman to hold the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Hopper’s legacy continues to inspire and motivate those who are working to advance the field of computer science today. In 2016 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, and in 2017 she was honored with a U.S. commemorative stamp.

As we celebrate Women’s Day and honor the many women who have made significant contributions to the field of technology, we should remember the remarkable life and legacy of Grace Hopper. Her discovery of the first computer bug and her pioneering work in computer programming paved the way for future generations of women in tech, and her legacy will continue to inspire and motivate us for years to come.

Also read our article about 20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution

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20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution

20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution
The IT gender gap remains a big issue. We celebrate International Women's Day by looking at some of the amazing women leading Europe’s tech revolution

One more year, International Women’s Day prompts the public eye to focus on a problem for which a single day of reflection is never enough. The gender gap in IT remains broad reaching across industries and roles. Despite improvements, the women-to-men ratio is still lower than in other sectors. Furthermore, 44% of female IT professionals acknowledge that men climb up the career ladder at a faster pace than they do. That’s why we wanted to give a nod to some of the amazing women leading Europe’s tech revolution. 

Suffice to say a list of 20 is merely a starting point regarding women in Tech. So, stay tuned throughout this month for additional articles highlighting the many adventures of female technologists across Europe.  

Discover 20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution

Maggie Philbin – United Kingdom 

CEO TeenTech CIC 

Firstly, Maggie Philbin, a long-time science and technology reporter for the BB. Philbin is indeed a passionate technology advocate who founded and directs TeenTech CIC, a series of events aimed at helping young people and their support network understand the breadth of STEM careers and the skills needed to pursue them.  

Maja Pantic – United Kingdom 

AI Scientific Research Lead at Facebook & Professor at Imperial College London 

Secondly, an authority in artificial intelligence specialising in the machine analysis of human non-verbal behaviour and its application to human-computer, human-robot, and computer-mediated human-human interaction. Pantic also combines teaching at the Imperial College with research for Facebook London. 

Zoe Adamovicz – Germany 

Co-Founder & CEO at Neufund 

Then, a serial entrepreneur, Adamovicz has founded many successful technology companies including Neufund, a blockchain-based investment platform connecting innovators and investors to fund and launch innovative ventures. She’s also a mentor at Gaza Sky Geeks, supporting tech entrepreneurship in the area. 

Jasmine Anteunis – France 

Chief Product Officer – SAP Conversational AI and co-founder at Recast.AI (exit SAP)  

Further, Anteunis founded AI chatbot company Recast AI in 2015, bought by ERP giant SAP in 2018. Also known as the SAP Conversational AI, the tool lets businesses deploy powerful conversational interfaces with comprehensive, end-to-end bot building. 

Chantelle Bell – United Kingdom 

Co-founder at Syrona Health 

Moreover, having founded Syrona Health in 2018, Bell is a British entrepreneur who has built the digital female health platform to democratise women’s health and help women monitor their chronic gynaecological and uterine conditions.  

Sue Black – United Kingdom 

Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist, Durham University 

Dr Black is a digital skills expert, social entrepreneur and also international keynote speaker well known for her activism around social inclusion and advancing women’s role in IT. Moreover, she led the successful campaign to save Bletchley Park, the World War II code-breaking site. 

Francesca Bria – Italy 

Chairwoman/President CDP Venture Capital SGR- Fondo Nazionale Innovazione at CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti 

In addition, Bria is a digital rights champion leading Europe’s DECODE data sovereignty project. Moreover, she is an expert in digital cities and rights, serving as a senior adviser on these issues for the United Nations. She is also the former chief digital technology and innovation lead for the city of Barcelona.  

Margrethe Vestager – Belgium 

European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission 

Then, Vestager is a Danish politician serving as the European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice President of the commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age. She also leads Europe’s anti-trust efforts, holding the world’s biggest tech companies to account. 

Corinne Vigreux – Netherlands  

Founder, Codam College and co-founder and CMO at TomTom 

Then, we continue this list with a co-founder and chief marketing officer of GPS pioneer TomTom, Vigreux is an active campaigner for women in the workforce and better social mobility through education. Also, in 2018, she founded Codam College, an Amsterdam-based coding school with a revolutionary peer-to-peer value proposition. 

Kinga Stanislawska – United Kingdom 

Co-founder and Managing Partner at Experior Venture Fund 

Last but not least, Stanislawska is the co-founder of the Polish venture capital fund Experior Venture Fund, Europe’s first VC founded exclusively by women. She is also the founder of the European Women in VC community, which comprises nearly 250 senior VC professionals from over 20 European countries. 

Betül Susamis Unaran – Switzerland 

Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Executive Board Member at Zur Rose Group 

Unaran leads the digital efforts of the Zur Rose Group, Europe’s biggest eCommerce player in the healthcare space. She is driven by her mission to make a difference in people’s lives through data and digital initiatives that transform the lives of patients. 

Raffaela Rein – Germany   

Founder of WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry 

Raffaela Rein is a German start-up entrepreneur who founded venture lab WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry, a leading school focusing on careers in the digital economy. She also sits at the board of the German Start-Ups Association. 

Luz Rello – Spain 

Founder of Change Dyslexia and Accessibility Consultant at Apple 

The first Spanish person to receive the European Young Researchers’ award, Luz Rello is founder and CEO of Change Dyslexia, an organisation helping screen and treat dyslexia through a research-based platform. She is also an accessibility consultant for Apple. 

Colette Ballou – United Kingdom 

Investor at Ballou Capital and Chairman at Ballou 

Named one of Europe’s Most Influential Women in the Start-up & VC Space by EU Start-ups, Colette Ballou is a serial investor and frequent speaker on the topic of angel investing. Her successful communications and strategy agency, Ballou, allowed her to invest in an impressive range of start-ups. 

Karen Boers – Belgium  

Co-founder at BeCode, BeCentral and Boers & Peusens 

Boers is a passionate social entrepreneur who has founded and established a series of projects focusing on empowering others and help them achieve their dreams and goals. These include BeCode, a coding school centred on re-skilling talents into web development and other in-demand IT careers.  

Moojan Asghari – France 

Founder & CEO at Thousand Eyes On Me and co-founder of Women in AI 

Asghari founded the personal branding and development platform Thousand Eyes On Me to help women and minorities unleash their full potential and move up the career ladder. She is also the co-founder of Women in AI, a global network of female artificial intelligence experts. 

Lauren Kisser – United Kingdom 

Director, Alexa AI – Knowledge International at Amazon 

Formerly the director of engineering at Amazon Web Services, AWS S3, Lauren Kisser is now the Director of the company’s Alexa AI – Knowledge International. She is a self-described STEMinista and diversity champion who sees gender diversity as the key to power tech innovation. 

Nell Watson – United Kingdom 

AI Ethics expert at IEEE Standards Association, Singularity University 

Watson is an interdisciplinary researcher in emerging technologies including machine vision and AI. She focuses on AI ethics, working with the IEEE Standards Association and the Atlantic Council, among others. She is also AI Faculty at Singularity University and chairs various prosocial organisations. 

Mary-Jo de Leeuw – Netherlands 

Director Cybersecurity Advocacy EMEA at (ISC)² 

Mrs De Leeuw is a career cybersecurity consultant and serial entrepreneur whose work and affiliations include serving as the director of cybersecurity advocacy for EMEA at training and certifications organisation (ISC)².  

Sonja Betschart – Switzerland 

Co-Founder and Chief Entrepreneurship Officer at WeRobotics 

Betschart is a “tech for good” entrepreneur focused on using emerging technologies to empower and people, businesses and communities. She co-founded and leads WeRobotics, a non-profit organisation committed to solving local problems through robotics.  

Want to read more about women in Tech ? Discover our article: Women in Tech: Women Must Claim Their Spot in the IT World

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Weekly News: Robot Farmers

Robot Farmers, Microsoft jobs, Ada Lovelace Day: discover our weekly news about IT & Tech.
Robot Farmers, Microsoft jobs, Ada Lovelace Day: discover our weekly news about IT & Tech.

Robot Farmers, Microsoft jobs, Ada Lovelace Day: discover our weekly news about IT & Tech.

Robot Farmers

Google‘s parent company, Alphabet, has presented a prototype for a new line of farming robots to help farmers monitor the health of crops and multiply crop yields.

Consequently, project Mineral consists of swarms of “robot buggies” that go up and down the fields inspecting every plant. They do so on upright pillars, coasting on top of the plants much like harbour container cranes do.

Meanwhile Alphabet’s goal is to accumulate large amounts of data about how crops grow to help the agricultural industry tackle the world’s increasing need for food and the sustainability of growing it.

BBC

Microsoft wants to create 1.5M jobs

In addition, Microsoft has made a pledge to create 1.5 million tech jobs in the UK over the next 5 years, with and additional 300,000 depending directly on them.

Called Get Go 2021, the campaign targets people currently in education, those looking into pursuing a career in tech, and those already in tech and wanting to change careers. The initiative is also meant to help those whose jobs have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis and bridge the IT talent gap. It will be based on education and training programs.

The company will also leverage LinkedIn data to anticipate the need for more than 3 million skilled IT workers. 

IT Pro Portal

To discover more about Microsoft: A Microsoft Technologies Careers Guide.

Ada Lovelace Day

Born in early 19th-century England, Ada Lovelace was a pioneering mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage’s “Analytical Engine,” a steam-powered calculating machine now regarded as the first fully-automatic mechanical computer.

Although she wrote the first-ever algorithm, Lovelace’s true genius lied in her ability to envision the computer’s potential beyond mere arithmetic calculations. She is hence considered to be the first computer programmer, a “prophet” of the computer age.

This week we celebrated Ada Lovelace Day, reflecting on women’s countless contributions to science, technology engineering and math (STEM) — something we should honestly do every day.

Let this day serve as a reminder of how much work is left to do to ensure equal representation of women in tech.

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Women in IT: Women Must Claim Their Spot in the IT World

Freelancers in tech: did you say precariousness?
How the Covid-19 Pandemic is Accelerating the hybridisation of Careers in Tech & IT

The numbers are clear: women are under-represented in most IT roles. Yet, ironically, companies are increasingly looking for women’s talent and their unique skills to fill technical and leadership positions. So how can we ensure that women get the place they deserve in IT? How can we collectively be better at speaking to their dreams and ambitions? How can we encourage them to pursue a career in technology?

By Manuela Delfort-Garampon, co-founder of Mindquest.

Looking for a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.

It can often be difficult to find a single woman in the IT department of a large company, even across entire office floors. As we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day in honour of this champion of women in STEM; we should take a deep look at how much progress we have made towards equal gender representation in technology. Spoiler alert: not enough.

According to various recent studies on the subject, the proportion of women in IT professions varies between 10 and 30%. Gartner estimates this proportion to be at 31% globally in 2018.

What is more, the higher up in the hierarchy, the fewer women there are. Only 13% of women occupy the position of CIO according to the 2018 Gartner CIO Survey.

But most alarmingly, the gap appears to be widening if we consider the decline in the number of women enrolled in IT-related schools.

IT needs women more than ever

IT functions are affected by a terrible talent shortage. The number of unfilled positions in digital professions is exploding. To the point that the main threat to start-ups and large IT departments has become how difficult it is to find the right person for the job.

But, as it stands, the IT world is virtually depriving itself of half of its talent pool. Attracting more women would certainly go a long way in solving the problem.

On the other hand, IT professions would have everything to gain from welcoming more women for one simple reason. Gender diversity increases team performance. Numerous studies show the positive impact of gender diversity on employee engagement and confidence, customer satisfaction and the company’s brand image.

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According to McKinsey, which has been publishing the “Women Matter” study series for ten years now, companies with 3 women or more within their management bodies; or 30% of a classic boardroom; obtained performance scores up to 7 points higher than more male-dominated companies.

The challenge of attracting interest

So, there is no lack of good arguments to move towards greater gender parity, but how can we push for it? Several axes should be tackled at once. The often-proposed principle of quotas could be a solution. But it is not a very good strategy from a talent quality point of view. Above all, it would be necessary to change social perceptions around women in tech. Rather than imposing, we should facilitate and streamline women’s access to IT professions and encourage them to choose these careers.

In the era of digital transformation, IT jobs have gained in atractiveness. But many functions are still widely associated with men. Systems architect, network engineer, project manager, data scientist, software developer … are all professions from which women tend to stay away. It is important that we give more visibility to the women already working in these sectors in order to attract future candidates.

Campaings like #WomenInTech or #WhomenWhoCode are good examples of how the IT community is working towards this goal.

Want to read more about Women in IT ? Discover our articles 20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution and A Look at Diversity in Tech

The challenge of empowerment

To break the glass ceiling, we must also make women aware of their abilities, of their value and what they have to bring to IT teams.

Today, great figures from political circles and the show business are encouraging women to get out of their comfort zone, to be vocal about their goals and fully unleash their potential and break down all these social barriers.

We should apply this global push to the world of IT so that women can stop devaluing themselves and settle for lower salaries. Finally gaining access to more strategic and technical positions.

Here again, education and communication are key. So are role models.

Women are undeniably welcome in IT, they just need to be more daring.

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