Several women played key roles in inventing and shaping the internet and related technologies:
- Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) is credited with writing the very first computer algorithm and conceptualizing the idea of a programmable machine in the 19th century, well before modern computers existed. She worked with Charles Babbage on the Analytical Engine, an early mechanical computer precursor.
- Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000), though best known as a Hollywood actress, co-invented a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II that became foundational for wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.
- Radia Perlman (born 1951) is called the "mother of the internet" for inventing the Spanning Tree Protocol, which enabled the reliable interconnection of multiple networks, essentially laying groundwork for how the internet functions. She holds numerous patents and contributed significantly to network protocols.
- Other notable women who contributed to early computer programming, internet directories, and social networking include Grace Hopper, Betty Snyder, Betty Jean Jennings, Jamie Levy, and Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler.
In summary, the internet's invention was a collective effort with critical contributions from these and other pioneering women in computing and communications.
