Dear CENMAC Community,
 

This month is Women in History, along with International Women’s day on 8 March 2021. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to shine a light on those women having a significant impact on technology both past and present.   

Little is often known about some of the most inspirational women in history who have played a key role in the advancements in this field. Within the area of assistive technology, we are also working with some brilliant women who are leading the way with innovative technology. Through this month’s newsletter and our blogs, we look forward to sharing resources and information that you can hopefully use in school or engage in discussions around how we can encourage girls into future roles in this area.   

How to Talk to Robots

'... We live in an era where machines are taught to learn
and act without human intervention and there are
infinite possibilities to their applications.'

(Waterstones) 

Do you want to learn more about women in the history of technology? This book gives some interesting overviews and information as well as looking to the future of AI. 

How to Talk to Robots 

Teaching Assistant Award | March 2021

In our work supporting students with assistive technology, we meet some amazing teaching assistants who we would like to acknowledge. The extra work and the skills of these individuals have a huge impact on their students' learning.

 

Congratulations to Jean Murphy, 
March 2021 Teaching Assistant Award

Jean Murphy of The Elm Green School

I've been working with SEN students for quite a few years now, both primary and secondary. I have to say teenagers are my favourites to work with, hilariously funny and annoyingly stubborn but definitely interesting and rewarding. Having equipment, as tailored as their CENMAC device, makes lessons much more accessible for students and makes a huge difference.  Then, for me, watching their confidence grow is fantastic. 

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A must to watch (again if you have seen it) is the movie Hidden Figures. It is based on the lives of a team of female African-American mathematicians, who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. Trailer: Hidden Figures

Events 

Did you know ...

3D Technology: Valerie Thomas is an American scientist and inventor who patented the illusion transmitter in 1980. After seeing an illusion that involved concave mirrors and light bulbs in a museum, she became curious and wanted to know about how she could apply concave mirrors in her work at NASA.

Her invention, the illusion transmitter grew out of her experimentation with concave mirrors. It can best be described as early 3D technology. Her invention transmits an optical illusion of a 3D image between concave mirrors that looks real on the receiving end. NASA continues to use her technology to this day.