Almost immediately after Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell was un-nominated for a "Pioneer" award over accusations of sexism, questions arose from gaming fans and historians alike: was the reaction appropriate? They wanted to know: was a "#NotNolan" campaign too quick to pass judgement based on salacious rumors? Or was it a measured response to how the gaming and technology industries look so many years later? A report from Kotaku's Cecilia D'Anastasio came closest to answering that question on Monday. For the report, she interviewed a compelling spectrum of women who are perhaps best equipped to speak to the question: Bushnell's female peers within Atari, as well as female industry researchers and historians. The report doesn't come close to a definitive answer, and its hesitation to render any verdict on the matter is perhaps its greatest strength. Atari didn’t “prepare us for the real world” The report's most interesting details come from those who worked with … [Read more...] about 12 ex-Atari women respond to #NotNolan controversy, offer ‘70s perspective
Women
The Michele Hybrid is a stunning watch for women with some smart capabilities
With a history of producing luxurious and chic watches for women, Michele has made the plunge into the tech industry with the Michele Hybrid Smartwatch. It blends the elegant style of an analog watch with the useful features of a smartwatch when paired with the Michele Connected app for iOS and Android. In our review, we found a smartwatch with stunning design and good performance, but a far too high price tag. Comfortable and sporty watch design The Michele Hybrid’s watch face is bigger than most other women’s smartwatches on the market, which also means it’s a little heavier. We were particularly excited to see a 38mm stainless steel case with large bezels, because it made the watch look thicker and less delicate than other ones on the market. Regardless of the color variant, it’s a watch we were able to wear during the day and night without feeling like it threw off an entire outfit. It comes in different color options – two tone white and navy, navy … [Read more...] about The Michele Hybrid is a stunning watch for women with some smart capabilities
Meet 20 women unearthing land mines in Angola
Digging up land mines isn't just dangerous, it's difficult. It involves long hours on your hands and knees, wearing heavy gear in the hot sun.That's why deminer training programs have to winnow out the weak. At the Halo Trust, a UK-based nongovernmental organization with demining programs in 17 countries, learning to clear land mines involves a month of hot, methodical training in a mock minefield.In Angola, men have historically done land mine clearance, but Halo is trying something new: adding women to its demining effort. The aim is to diversify the NGO's ranks, boost mine clearance, teach job skills to more women and attract donors. The plan is to eventually have 100 women working as deminers, medics, drivers and mechanics in Angola. With the land mines still there, Angola can't escape the shadow of its 27-year civil war. Land can't be cultivated for crops. Houses can't be built and villages can't expand. And, an estimated 88,000 people have been victims of land mine accidents in … [Read more...] about Meet 20 women unearthing land mines in Angola
Women Engineers On the Rampant Sexism of Silicon Valley
“Imagine you are nothing like how you are right now,” says Duretti Hirpa, a senior engineer at Slack. The words tumble out of her mouth as she tries to convey the alienation and otherness of working in Silicon Valley when you don’t fit the conventional image of an engineer. “It’s very tough to explain to someone what you experience, if it’s not their lived experience,” she says. Between 2006 and 2011, women represented just 12 percent of the engineering workforce in the United States, according to data collected by the American Association of University Women. In the same time period, women of color accounted for just over 4 percent of the engineering talent. Silicon Valley companies also struggle to retain female engineers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that 32 percent of women in science, technology, engineering, and math leave the field within a year compared to 22 percent of men. Women told WIRED about work environments … [Read more...] about Women Engineers On the Rampant Sexism of Silicon Valley
‘Electric Dreams’ Adapts Philip K. Dick But With Actual Women
Electric Dreams is a new anthology show based on the science fiction of Philip K. Dick, whose work has also inspired such films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report. Writer Anthony Ha is a huge PKD fan, but admits that Dick’s characterization is often a weak point. “I think in general he has a few stock types,” Ha says in Episode 292 of the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. “They can be deployed effectively—there’s the sort of ‘tired, aggrieved everyman’ who he trots out in every book and every short story, and I think it works pretty well. Some of the female stereotypes that he relies on, not so great.” Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy host David Barr Kirtley agrees that female characters are not Dick’s strong suit. “I’ve always kind of said that Philip K. Dick’s female characters are either ‘the hot secretary’ or ‘the nagging wife,’ with very few … [Read more...] about ‘Electric Dreams’ Adapts Philip K. Dick But With Actual Women