February typically is the month during which we focus on the contributions of African Americans in various aspects of our society. While we should highlight our achievements throughout the year, I will take this opportunity to present four individuals who contributed in significant ways to the technology we enjoy today. Their stories symbolize the resilience and creativity of how we overcome barriers to open doors for others and chart new territories in technology.
Roy L. Clay Sr.: The Godfather of Silicon Valley
Roy L. Clay Sr. (no relation to the author) is widely considered the “Godfather of Silicon Valley” in recognition of his career achievements and creation of programs to create pathways for other Blacks in technology. He was one of the first Black men to graduate from St. Louis University. In his first computer science job at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), he developed his first computer program to measure how radiation would spread after an atomic explosion. After leaving LLNL, Clay was instrumental in Hewlett-Packard’s early forays into computing as the lead developer of the HP 2116A, HP’s first minicomputer. When it hit the market in 1966, it was the second such machine in the world. It was a crucial building block in the personal computing revolution, making technology more accessible and impactful for future generations. When Clay left HP, he was elected as Palo Alto’s first Black council member in 1973. He also was the first person of color to play golf at San Francisco’s Olympic Club, opening the way for other golfers of color.
Marian Croak: Innovator in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Dr. Marian Croak was born in 1955 and grew up in New York City. She attended Princeton and the University of Southern California, where she earned a PhD in social psychology and quantitative analysis. She began her career at Bell Labs, now AT&T, in 1982. She envisioned Internet connections not only linking computers but also being used to make reliable and high-quality calls. She has become a visionary in the field of telecommunications, with over 200 patents to her name, 100 of which directly relate to the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Her innovations have transformed the way the world communicates, making it possible for voice and video communications to travel over the internet. This breakthrough has had a profound impact on global communications, enabling more efficient and cost-effective connections across distances. Today we use this technology to make calls from our smartphones, computers, tablets and watches. VoIP is so common that landline telephones really seem like a thing of the past. In 2022, she was inducted into the National Inventor Hall of Fame. As a Vice President at Google, Dr. Croak continues to lead and inspire in the development of technologies that address societal challenges, including disaster response and internet accessibility.
Mark Dean: A Cornerstone of Personal Computing
Dr. Mark Dean stands tall among the giants of computer science, holding three of IBM’s original nine PC patents. His contributions are foundational to the usability and functionality of personal computers. As a co-creator of the IBM personal computer released in 1981, Dean’s work facilitated the widespread adoption of PCs, transforming the way society interacts with digital technology. Dean’s invention of the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus enabled the integration of more devices and capabilities into computers, enhancing their utility and performance. His groundbreaking work in computer science has paved the way for innovations that continue to influence the tech industry today.
Lisa Gelobter: Revolutionizing Digital Media
Lisa Gelobter has been at the forefront of internet technology and digital media. Over the past 25 years, she has become a leader in the tech industry. One of her most notable jobs as an engineer was her work on the earliest interactive multimedia platform, Shockwave. She also helped develop the software behind the very first online videos. Her contributions to the launch of Hulu and her work on the technology that underpins GIFs have played a critical role in bringing dynamic content to digital platforms and enriching the user experiences across the globe. Beyond her technical achievements, Gelobter is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology, working tirelessly to ensure that the digital age benefits all sectors of society equitably.
The stories of these four individuals are beacons of inspiration, highlighting the crucial role of African Americans in the field of technology. Their achievements not only reflect extraordinary intellect and innovation but also a commitment to opening doors for the generations that follow.
Courtesy, Karen Clay