Category Archives: Just Sayin

Just Sayin, Resources

3 Tips for Becoming a Better Programmer

Alexandrea Beh
Alexandrea Beh
Knowledge Junkie, Avid Reader and Lover of all things puzzles and cats. Alexandrea is a Biology major and Computer Science/Music double minor at Pacific University. A self-starter who loves a challenge, her passion is developing tools that bring people together to learn.
Alexandrea Beh
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Apple recently announced the release of Swift, a new programming language intended to make programming easier and more efficient than Objective C, the current language used for programming OS X and iOS devices. Some people wondered whether novice programmers should still bother learning Objective C (the consensus is pretty much a ‘yes’). At the same time, Apple’s announcement was a reminder that since technology is constantly changing, a savvy programmer never stops learning. Here are three habits you should adopt to help yourself become a more efficient, knowledgeable and well-rounded programmer.

1. Stay Informed

Read the headlines or articles from places that cover the area of technology you’re interested in – this could be a formal news outlet, someone’s blog, or a subreddit. Some general places to start are TechCrunch, CIO.com, PCWorld, The Next Web and of course, iGirl Tech News. For news about new programming languages, you can check out the Codecademy and Code School blogs. For news specifically related to women in technology, check out the Anita Borg Institute and also the National Center for Women in Technology (NCWIT). If you’re someone who knows about prominent companies, trends, and new developments, you’ll have a better sense of your field as a whole; you’ll know how those changes might affect you, and you’ll also be among the first to know about cool up-and-coming opportunities. I like to use Feedly to keep track of all my news – both its mobile and web versions are pretty great.

2. Don’t Just Memorize – Pay Attention to Patterns and Concepts

If you look through the job descriptions for programmers, software or web developers, you’ll quickly realize that you’ll need to know more than one programming language, but that it would also be hard to learn all of them. What to do? Many (but not all) programming languages share similar characteristics but use different words and syntax. Build a solid foundation in one language like C++, Java or Ruby, and pay attention to patterns and concepts like object-oriented programming and how logic statements work. Once you start learning another language, you won’t be starting from scratch if you look for transferable skills and concepts. You will also be better equipped to pick up new languages and platforms as they emerge.

3. Watch Out for Imposter Syndrome

This one applies especially to women and other minority groups in tech, and becomes more prevalent in high-achievers. If you have Imposter Syndrome, that means you tend to feel undeserving of your successes, and you feel like you owe much more of your accomplishments to luck or other people rather than yourself. More than just feeling like you don’t belong, you might worry that one day the people around you will realize you’re an ‘imposter’ or a ‘fake’. Don’t fall for this!

[tweet “You worry . . . you’re an ‘imposter’ . . . Don’t fall for this!”]

We all owe part of our circumstances to luck, and other people can certainly influence our lives, but that doesn’t mean that you are unworthy of the work you do. Give others credit where it is due, but don’t hold yourself back: take ownership of your own achievements.

Photo by: Ben W

Edu, Just Sayin

There May Be Something There That Wasn’t There Before

Alexandrea Beh
Alexandrea Beh
Knowledge Junkie, Avid Reader and Lover of all things puzzles and cats. Alexandrea is a Biology major and Computer Science/Music double minor at Pacific University. A self-starter who loves a challenge, her passion is developing tools that bring people together to learn.
Alexandrea Beh
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Ah, but maybe it was there before and it just took a new perspective.

If you think you’ve got a pretty accurate worldview, watch this TedTalk and we’ll see. In 2007, Hans Rosling showed us that in a world filled with increasing amounts of data, we desperately needed to visualize that data in a new way.

As a pre-test, Rosling asked the following set of questions to a group of Swedish undergradute students who were studying global health:

Which country has the highest child mortality…

  • Sri Lanka or Turkey?

  • Poland or South Korea?

  • Malaysia or Russia?

  • Pakistan or Vietnam?

  • Thailand or South Africa?

If you’re still feeling pretty confident, then that’s great – I make it a habit to read the local and world news almost daily and felt like I had to make some second guesses, but didn’t feel like I’d be too far off. What’s more, Rosling reveals that each pair of countries was deliberately chosen so that one country would in reality have twice the child mortality rate of the other. Shouldn’t be that hard then.

I was right for 5 2 out of the 5 questions, and the Swedish students were just about as accurate. How come we were so wrong, and how does data visualization come into play? First go make yourself a nice cup of tea, then come back to watch Rosling’s TedTalk, see how well you scored and among other things, see how just profoundly the Internet has impacted our world.

Without spoiling the video (if you’re still reading this and you haven’t watched the TedTalk, go watch it! I’ll wait, it’s okay), what strikes me most is that much of the data presented was not new in any kind of raw sense. These changes throughout the world haven’t happened overnight, yet it took a new kind of data visualization – Rosling used Gapminder – to make these changes easy to notice and understand.

In what turned out to be an at-once fitting and ironic search, I attempted to find a Creative Commons licensed image on Flickr to accompany this article and met with little success. (Thank you, Tony, for finding an image!) Type in ‘data’ and you get generic tech pictures, creepy doll faces and Lieutenant Commander Data from Star Trek. Type in ‘data visualization’ and you get a plethora of complicated circles, rectangles and spikes. ‘Statistics graphics’ yields slightly better results, yet I became very aware that the way we typically represent data in charts and diagrams has not changed much over the years. Rosling’s TedTalk helped me reflect that maybe it really is time for us to upgrade the way we visually represent data. If I was feeling pretty confident about my answers to those five questions, how many other situations are there where my perspective is so skewed, and what would it take to see something new?

Looking Ahead

The term ‘big data’ is becoming a more prevalent topic in computer science as we collect more and more information about ourselves and the world around us. Since Rosling gave his talk in 2007, it has become even more necessary for people to create news tools that help us better understand all of this information and decide how to react to its implications. Something tells me that pie charts and scatter plots aren’t always going to cut it anymore.

Think you might be interested in a career in big data? Check out what contributors at Forbes and Computerworld have to say.

Just Sayin, Resources

Women and Privacy: Things You Don’t Know CAN Really Hurt You.

Autumn J @designlaurels
Autumn J @designlaurels
making web and print and social beautiful .. :)
Autumn J @designlaurels
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Maybe not physically, but it has happened. Remember the “Craigslist killer?” Cyperspace is full of common folks communicating, banking, buying, and playing. But there are also countless numbers of hackers, scammers, peepers, thieves, and even murderers out there too. In a digital age, some things can get scary. Should you really worry? Well…., in a word—- YES! Anyone can be a target and a victim. The good common sense safety rules we apply when out on the town, traveling in a foreign place, or just following our day to day routine, should extend to our electronic devices and communication as well.

Your Own Computer May Not Be Safe

There’s $40 software anyone can buy (no computer engineer required) that can hack into your computer, steal your information and even  turn on your camera, without the light turning on to tell you that it’s happening. Recently in the news, Miss Teen USA and 30 to 40 others, learned that they were being spied on in this manner. A total invasion of what they all believed, was their private space, and under their control. Even on a Mac, your camera can be turned on without your knowledge.

Apps May Not Be Safe

Some programs get hacked and some don’t care. Snap Chat lied, and doesn’t enforce it’s privacy polices. Whisper and Secret do share your information. Up until recently, any new Facebook accounts, posted to public by default. It is important that you read that tedious fine print, monitor the default settings, and just stay aware.

Everyday May Not Be Safe

There’s also a lot of hacking going on too. eBay lost not only your passwords, but your name, address, phone number and more. Target lost up to 70 million individuals’ credit card information. Apple lost developer information. Heartbleed was a problem with how security (SSL) was implemented on MOST websites online, with that recent break ALMOST ANY website you purchased from was open to being hacked. Those are just a few recent ones, as the list in never ending, ongoing, and just a part of our new electronic lives.

Sometimes it makes me want to hide in a hole! But I LOVE technology. I love the convenience and coolness of sharing on things like Twitter, being able to buy a custom t-shirt from an artist half-way around the world, and being able to see someone’s photo instantaneously and feeling like I’m there with them (even when I am not). Sharing a moment with someone on the other side of the earth brings us all together, and allows for connections and bonds like never before.

Some Ways to Stay Safe

Some developers have worked night and day to secure your information. Some are trying and some are not. Scary. The Electronic Frontier Foundation actually posts a list of companies and how they handle your privacy. There’s so much information out there if you look. I appreciate all the people that have brought attention to the problems and all the people working hard to protect us against it. It is a never ending battle between the “good guys and gals” and the bad ones.

As new security is implemented, some creep finds a way around it. So the days my grandparents told me about, when the whole community left the back door open— are gone. So are the days when we could just play, chat, and buy online using the same password for everything (yup, 55% of people still do that!). All I can do is fight the good fight and not give up.

There’s several good articles and tips out there on how to protect yourself, your data and your privacy. One book I read called The Smart Girl’s Guide to Privacy helps women (and men too) navigate this jungle. She has some suggestions for daily prevention tips, what to do if hacked, and how often to check what. Not a bad start.

Here’s a Few Tips From @VioletBlue:

  1. Don’t give up. Don’t forget you CAN do some things to protect yourself. ( She has some great resources listed. )
  2. Might I suggest a piece of tape over your webcam?
  3. It’s a good idea to change your passwords often. ( In light of recent events, I’d say now is a good time. ) 
  4. Use different passwords and different emails for different kinds of accounts. Password managers like 1Password help with that. A PO Box for signups makes eBay losing your address, not as scary. 
  5. Diligence is good, Google yourself to see what’s out there.
  6. Lock your devices and don’t sign-in on other devices. 
  7. Let me repeat. DON’T GIVE UP. 

419j52P+fbL._SL110_The Smart Girl’s Guide to Privacy
I would suggest this book for any of the women you care about, including you. Thanks @VioletBlue, The Electronic Frontier Foundation and all the tech / non-tech people who work hard to help navigate this digital jungle. It’s a pain to protect yourself in this digital age, but what you don’t know CAN hurt you. Hopefully with awareness we can try.

Just Sayin

You’re just a girl, you wouldn’t understand

Haylee B
Haylee B
At 16, Haylee is iGirlTech's teen voice.Totally uninterested in society's “perfect image” trap, she writes about it and geeks out with people over the interwebs. She loves any and all things about space and technology. In her free time, she is currently in the process of learning programming, a huge passion. "I absolutely love being a girl in the tech world!"
Haylee B
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HayleeIt’s funny how often I hear things like “You’re just a girl, you wouldn’t understand” when I try to join in a conversation about techie things or video games. It’s frustrating when I hear a group of my guy friends talking about a game that was just released or the good ol’ “Xbox vs. PlayStation” argument, and when I try to join in, I just “don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Well FYI, when I’m designing video games later in life, I’m going to make a character just like you and kill them off. You’re welcome.

There are plenty of girls that are interested in the same things as me. Unfortunately, they’ve been so pressured to be society’s perfect version of a girl, that they’re worried about being ridiculed to show their true selves. How girls are treated when they aren’t into the same girly stuff as everyone else is really frustrating. My dream is to see a world where girls don’t have to feel bad for what they’re interested in, just because people think it’s only for boys.

Why are there thousands of men pursuing careers in supposed “girly things” like fashion design, and they generally don’t get a whole lot of crap about it? Yeah, their friends might tease them a little but their talents are never questioned. The minute a female decides she wants to pursue a career in computer programming, or mechanics, she “won’t be successful” because she “doesn’t know anything about it” and should “try getting into something more her style.”

Ah – the sweet, sweet sound of men’s fear of being emasculated because their interests are no longer just for men. Beautiful. Brings tears of joy to my eyes.

I guess my main point is, I thought the gender discrimination thing was supposed to have ended a long time ago. Unfortunately, it’s still causing girls to have a fear of expressing themselves, even at a young age. One day girls will no longer have to worry about being themselves. I’m tired of this idea of a “perfect girly-girl.” I’m ready to be confident in what I want to pursue, and I’m ready for other girls to be confident, too.

Image by Ed Yourdon