On Mon, 26 Nov 2001, Chuck Huff wrote: > I was at a History of computing conference this summer (I do computer > ethics) and saw several presentations from people who remembered > "computers" who were women. Large engineering problems solved by > roomsfull of women with real paper spreadsheets and pencils. The > women were often highly trained mathematicians who did not want to > settle down to housework. They did much of the organizing of the > computations, and contributed to the products more than by their mere > calculating prowess. But, of course, they never got credit. >
As it happens, I recall that the late, great physicist Richard Feynman described an operation exactly like that during the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb. I believe it was his idea to organize women to serve collectively as a human computer to do the enormous number-crunching that was required. They must have done an excellent job, because we all know the result. -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
