February 16, 2006
Contents:
- Letter from the President
- The Chronicle of Higher Education: “Colloquy Live” Summary by Revi Sterling, University of Colorado
- In Praise of Women in Technology Yemen
Reminders:
- Call for Participation and Save the Date for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing: October 4-7, 2006 San Diego, CA
- Anita Borg Awards and Scholarship Nominations and Applications currently being accepted
- TechLeaders - Realizing Your Vision, March 22-23, 2006 Google, Mountain View, CA. Space is limited! Register now!
I bought a BlackBerry this week, or more to the point, our wonderful IT person Erica Rios bought me one. I’ve had a combination phone and email device for a few years, and love it, but for a variety of reasons, most of which are extremely annoying, my handheld device was never able to work consistently with our mailing system. I think of the number of hours Erica and I have spent on this problem and I know why technology sometimes has such a bad reputation.
In my current role as the CEO and President of a non-profit, it is important for me to stay connected with our community. I depend on access to email and my calendar to get things done. I am frequently on the road, and email is my primary form of communication and with the time differences, it is often a challenge to stay on top of all of the important correspondence.
I feel comfortable being able to stay attuned with the relationships that help us succeed, but it’s not hard to see the ways technology can also rule my life — if I let it. There’s an added level of distraction that comes from constantly being taken out of the moment by the ringing of a cell phone or the chime of an email appearing in your inbox.
Working effectively also means quieting the mind and technology doesn’t always support that way of being. The last few years have been intense for me and although I gain energy from work I also recognize that creativity comes from walking away from the computer, and focusing on other aspects of life, such as trees, mountains and other people.
Last summer I spent four weeks completely unplugged, in the Indian Himalayas, in an area of the world with no electricity. . I believe passionately, that I need to completely disconnect in order to truly reconnect. Creativity happens on an unconscious level and the only way this can happen is to let my mind be less active.
I need access to email, and sometimes I am lost without my cell phone and I’m sure I’ll depend on my new BlackBerry too (thanks Erica). But I also know the importance of a walk or run in the woods without any connected devices when technology is far away. For me, what is important is drawing the line and being clear on my needs and taking the time each day to unplug.
Telle’s new gadget is a BlackBerry 7130e. When she’s not running, you can reach her at tellew@anitaborg.org
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The The Chronicle of Higher Education: “Colloquy Live” Summary by Revi Sterling, University of Colorado.
We all know the frustration of advocating for greater representation of women in computing, but we primarily share our ideas, frustrations and successes with each other. It’s hard to mainstream gender, both as a topic of discussion and as a practice in our institutions. The press tell us we have an “evergreen” story – with 22 years of decline, where’s the urgency to tell the story? However, the Chronicle of Higher Education decided that the story was worth telling to a broad range of academics. Read More
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In Praise of Women in Technology Yemen (WIT Yemen)
The Anita Borg Institute had the pleasure of assisting the Institute of International Education in selecting a portion of the two hundred and fifty women that will participate in its WIT Yemen program. The program will empower Yemeni women by providing them with the education and skills to become active participants in their society.
The women will receive scholarships to attend professional development workshops as well as attend computer skills training courses that include the Microsoft Unlimited Potential curriculum at the Society for the Development of Women and Children (SOUL) Community Training Learning Centers in Sana’a, and the Cisco Networking Academy Program at the General Telecommunication Institute, Sana’a. The women will also participate in the establishment of Yemen’s first Women’s IT Association.
The Institute sends much praise to the women of Yemen that have the courage to learn new technologies, and to the Institute of International Education for its efforts to increase the positive impact of technology on the world’s women.
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