Annie Easley's Legacy

     

    Annie Easley was an early contributor to the field of technology. She was the developer and inventor who implemented a code used in researching energy conversion systems. Annie also made a code to analyze alternative power technology. Both of these codes helped create battery technology that would lead to the early stages of hybrid cars and an upper-stage rocket. Annie Easley got her inspiration to join the growing field of technology after she saw a newspaper article about twin sisters who worked at NACA as "human computers". This also influenced her future career as she applied for and was hired by this same company. Annie Easley's representation helped inspire African-American girls and all girls to join careers in technology and what would be in the future STEM careers. Annie also made modern spaceflight possible and helped make the start of what would be the batteries used in hybrid cars. Racial bias in computing and technology today is better than it was in Annie's day but it still not in a great place. Most computing and technology jobs are held by white men but that is slowly changing. More girls and people of color should be not only encouraged to join computer, technology and all STEM fields but also given resources for the higher education that will help them in those career fields. This is the legacy Annie Easley started and continues to inspire.