Grace Hopper: A Pioneer in Developing Computer Technology

Grace Hopper: A Pioneer in Computer Technology

Well known in the subject of engineering, the pioneer for developing early computer technology, is Grace Hopper (1906-1992). Featured in many conventions and conferences, she poses as a role model for engineering and computer science related careers as well as women in STEM. Featured in the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, a conference that is known to be the largest gathering of women in computing, she is known to have inspired many women in the engineering and computing industry of STEM. Being the first woman to receive a doctorate degree in mathematics and to be awarded with the National Medal of Technology and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she has made numerous accomplishment during the periods of time that she dedicated to help develop the Mark I, UNIVAC, COBOL, and other technological innovations that have influenced the developing world.

Beginning with the engineering in the U.S. Navy, a field and organization that was, at the time, heavily dominated by males, Hopper became one of the first programmers of Mark I which eventually was used in the War as well as served its initial purpose of computing and creating mathematical tables. Being extremely successful in this field, she continued to pursue work at the Harvard Computation Lab and later working on the projects of UNIVAC and COBOL. After the development of the Mark, she continued her work with UNIVAC, also known as the UNIVersal Automatic Computer I, which was the first general purpose electronic digital computer design for robot business application. As she developed this, she offered the development of a new programming language entirely in English to make programming easier for the data processors. This idea was widely rejected because of the belief that computers cannot understand the English language. She persisted, with the concept in mind that the data processors would be able to write their code in English and then have the computer translate it to machine code (such as binary, written in 0s and 1s). After the Remington Rand corporation took over her company, she continued to pursue this idea and eventually created the A compiler known as A-0. This first compiler contributed to the development of COBOL which is the major language used today in data processing. Hopper was then named the first director of automatic programming as she released the first compiler-based programming languages: MATH-MATIC and FLOW-MATIC.

As a woman in engineering in a heavily male dominated field during the time period she resided in, Grace Hopper is a large influencer for the many women in engineering as well as in STEM overall. Still remembered today with numerous conventions and conferences that feature her as an influencer for younger generations that are interested in pursuing the STEM field, it is clear that even after her death, Hopper has impacted the future generations of STEM and has contributed to the foundations of computing that we learn today.

Works Cited:

“Grace Hopper.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper.

“Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992): A Legacy of Innovation and Service.” YaleNews, 27 Feb. 2017, news.yale.edu/2017/02/10/grace-murray-hopper-1906-1992-legacy-innovation-and-service.

“History of Scientific Women.” Grace HOPPER, scientificwomen.net/women/hopper-grace-45.

Norwood, Arlisha. “Grace Hopper." National Women's History Museum. National Women's History Museum, 2017. Date accessed.