When we think of a computer, the first thing that mostly comes to mind is a boxed shaped device. However, of course it is, much more than that… We now live in a world filled with computers. Our mobile phones and every machine capable of processing and storing data are computers. The invention of computers fundamentally stems from humanity’s need for calculations.
Since the earliest periods of history, humans have asked questions about various fields such as agriculture, production, and space, and to answer these questions, they started performing calculations, leading to the discovery of mathematics. However, as the required calculations became more complex, manual calculations were no longer sufficient, and there arose a need for performing more complicated calculations in a shorter time. So, how did this journey begin, and how did we reach a point where we entrust computers with everything, from healthcare to the arts?
Computer science is a discipline where software and hardware complement each other. The first major step in this field was taken in the 19th century by Ada Lovelace. Lovelace laid the foundations of computer programming with the algorithms she wrote for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine and foresaw that machines could be used not only for calculations but also for creativity. This was a woman’s touch in technology. And she had pioneered a revolution in software.
Nearly a century later, in 1945, we became part of this journey with a computer called ENIAC. The story of ENIAC, a machine nearly the size of a room, was actually very different from the functionalities of the computers we use today…
ENIAC was originally designed during World War II to meet the complex calculation needs of the United States military. Initially, it was used for the physical and mathematical calculations of artillery firing, helping to determine how projectiles would behave at different distances and under varying weather conditions. It also played a crucial role in military strategy, weapon development, and ballistic calculations. However, after World War II, it continued to be used in broader projects, such as the Manhattan Project, and in designing nuclear weapons due to the need for efficient energy resource analysis.
ENIAC was a hardware-focused machine, and programming it required the manual arrangement of physical wires and switches. This was an extremely complex and technical task. But who was the genius behind this machine capable of performing such intricate calculations?
Although ENIAC is often credited to scientists John Mauchly and Presper Eckert, there was actually a team of brilliantly intelligent women behind it. Despite being overlooked, the truth remains unchanged.
The individuals who programmed and operated ENIAC were mostly women. This team included Jean Jennings Bartik, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Kathleen McNulty, Ruth Lichterman, and Frances Bilas. Unfortunately, due to the societal conditions of that time and the fact that women had not yet gained much recognition in this field, they were left in the background. Even today, their names appear only in a limited number of sources, making it difficult to fully access their contributions to technology.
In fact, during World War II—the 1940s—women had started to gain more opportunities in engineering and mathematics. However, due to post-war policies, the technology field became male-dominated, and women’s contributions were pushed into the background or even actively suppressed. The women of the ENIAC team broke out of the societal mold that expected them to stay at home and contributed to one of the most significant technological milestones in history.
The contributions of these women—whose names are almost too many to count—were not just technical achievements but also a challenge to gender roles. As they shaped the future of technology, they also demonstrated what women could achieve in science and engineering.
Today, quantum computers play a critical role by solving problems that classical computers cannot, integrating concepts like entanglement and superposition into computational methods. As we develop quantum software and numerical calculations, we are building on the foundations laid by the pioneers of early computing.
The increased representation of women in technology and science is considered a major step toward gender equality. Encouraging more women to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields is crucial for both individual and societal progress because technology requires contributions from everyone.
Historical figures like the ENIAC women serve as sources of inspiration for this ongoing struggle. Jean Jennings Bartik, Betty Snyder, and others laid the foundation for computer science, proving what women can achieve in technology. Their stories serve as guiding paths for young scientists today. Modern quantum technologies can be considered the continuation of electronic computing capabilities first established by ENIAC. As Newton said, “Science progresses by standing on the shoulders of giants.” A single breakthrough can open to many new developments, and none of these contributions should be ignored. The team of women who designed the first computer created a turning point for technology. Today, we stand on their shoulders. Because we know that when one woman rises, we all rise.
Women are not only those in the spotlight but also the supporters behind the scenes—a mother’s encouragement, a conversation shared over coffee with a friend, the inspiring gaze of a teacher… Each one illuminates another’s path, and the future is now clearer.
The reason we are here today is not only our own struggles but also the rise of other women. As it has been said before, when one woman rises, we all rise. And as one of these women, I take pride in defying stereotypes and pursuing physics, engaging in mathematical calculations, and working in the field of quantum science.
I would like to celebrate International Women’s Day by honoring everyone who has helped make technology and science more accessible to women and all women.
