International Girls in ICT Day 2023: International Girls in ICT Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of April to highlight the significance of girls in ICT and encourage more young women and girls to pursue STEM education. This year’s event occurs on April 27.
Did you know that the first commercially available computer was built in 1951? Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an umbrella term for the technologies required to transmit, store, create, share, and exchange information. These technologies consist of the internet (social media, websites, blogs, and emails), computers, live broadcasting technologies (audio and video players, storage devices, and podcasting), and telephony (fixed or mobile, satellite, Visio/videoconferencing, and more).
International Girls in ICT History Day
In 1822, English mechanical engineer and polymath Charles Babbage invented the first mechanical computer. The Difference Engine is a computer designed to conduct basic computations and solve complex calculation problems. It had temporary data storage and outputs that were stamped into malleable metal. Considering that the Difference Engine could only perform a single operation, Babbage decided to move forward. He invented the Analytical Engine in 1833. This automatic mechanical digital computer could perform all calculations and store up to a thousand 50-digit integers (more than any computer constructed prior to 1960). Four components made up the machine: the mill, the store, the reader, and the printer. The inputs were to be entered using punched cards, and the mechanism will be powered by steam and operated by a single attendant. However, the device was not constructed because he was unable to secure funding.
Augusta Ada King, countess of Lovelace, published a paper in 1843 that described the Analytical Engine and compared it to existing calculators. She created the world’s first computer programme in 1843 by sequencing instructions on perforated cards used by the Analytical Engine. At the time, King was the only expert in programming in the globe. In 1945, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. of the University of Pennsylvania led an initiative to construct the first electronic programmable computer in the United States. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was a Turing-complete computer that could be programmed to solve numerous complex problems. The ENIAC was programmed by six women known as the “ENIAC girls.”
Between the middle of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the development of the computer experienced a quantum leap that eclipsed the innovations of the preceding centuries. The invention of the transistor, COBOL, FORTRAN, UNIX, the floppy disc, and the Ethernet are examples of these developments. During the same time period, some of the largest technology companies, including INTEL, I.B.M., Apple, and Microsoft, were founded. Due to advancements in portable battery life and the miniaturisation of computing resources, portable computers became commonplace in the early 2000s. In the early 2000s, this innovation also led to the development of cellular mobile phones.
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Activities for International Girls in ICT Day
Attend an event
International Communication Union and Cisco present an annual International Girls in ICT Day event to encourage more girls and young women to enter the technology industry. Participation is possible by attending one of these events. Check the Internet for events hosted by other organisations that may be occurring locally or online.
Motivate more girls to consider STEM professions
If you are a tech professional, regardless of your gender, you can use this opportunity to share your journey in the tech industry and offer advice on how girls and women can pursue STEM careers. You can also make yourself available as a mentor and assist a girl in advancing her STEM education or career.
Sponsor a young woman in ICT.
You can also make a difference on International Girls in ICT Day by sponsoring a girl’s STEM education. If you know a lady with potential, you should introduce her to this opportunity. If not, you can ask social media users to recommend a lady for sponsorship. Then, among the nominees, you select the one you consider to be the finest.
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Five interesting facts about women in information and communications technology.
Augusta, the first programmer Ada King, an English mathematician and author, is regarded as the world’s first programmer.
Female technology company founders
20% of the world’s tech firms were founded by women.
A woman introduced Thailand to the internet.
Dr. Kanchana Kanchanasut was instrumental in introducing Thailand to the internet.
The original compiler
Grace Hopper was the first person to develop a compiler for a programming language.
Women on the board of directors
37% of tech ventures have at least one female board member.
Why We Celebrate International Girls in Technology Day
Rapidly, technology is penetrating every aspect of human life.
The future economy will unquestionably be driven by technology. Therefore, it is imperative that girls and women pursue careers in I.T. to take advantage of these opportunities. Additionally, technology is a wonderful equaliser and can be one of the tools used to close the gender gap.
It encourages more young women to pursue careers in technology.
On International Girls in ICT Day, events are held to educate girls and women about ICT and career opportunities in the field. The day also provides female tech leaders and professionals with an opportunity to share their experiences and inspire young girls and women.
It empowers young females and women
International Girls in ICT Day has spawned numerous initiatives to educate, train, and mentor girls and young women interested in a career in technology. This includes Girls in ICT programmes by Cisco, Microsoft, and the United Nations.
INTERNATIONAL GIRLS IN ICT DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | April 28 | Thursday |
| 2023 | April 27 | Thursday |
| 2024 | April 25 | Thursday |
| 2025 | April 24 | Thursday |
| 2026 | April 23 | Thursday |
