Tech Week: Women's Raises, Screen Time And Super-Locked Phones

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella backtracked on his suggestion that women shouldn't ask for raises. Brendan McDermid/Reuters/Landov hide caption

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella backtracked on his suggestion that women shouldn't ask for raises.

Our tech coverage this week was bookended by stories about women. We started with a look back at the forgotten females who pioneered computer programming and ended with the controversy about a certain tech CEO's insensitive remarks on women asking for raises. Oh, and Hewlett-Packard called it splitsville.

Coding Women: This was by far our most-retweeted story this week and for good reason. NPR's Laura Sydell, reporting on Walter Isaacson's new book, The Innovators, focused on the often-forgotten women who were among the earliest visionaries in tech. They included August Ada, who had a computer language named after her; Jean Jennings Bartik, a mathematician who created programs for the ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer; and Grace Hopper, who found a way to use words instead of numbers to program. Isaacson also discussed his history of technology with Dave Davies on Fresh Air.

Too Much Screen Time: Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC's New Tech City, notes that people who work in the tech industry often regulate their children's screen time. "They put very strict limits on the very gadgets and software that they spend their days developing," she says.

Asking For It: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella really put his foot in it when he seemed to suggest that maybe women don't need to ask for a raise that they should have "faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along." He quickly acknowledged his gaffe and admitted on Twitter that he was "inarticulate" in making the remark (which ironically came at a conference celebrating women in computing). As NPR's Samantha Raphelson reported, the controversy renewed questions about the tech industry's male-dominated culture.

Privacy Vs. Security: Apple and Google's decision to use their mobile operating systems to encrypt smartphone data (even the companies themselves won't be able to access it) is drawing applause from privacy advocates. But FBI and other law enforcement officials are warning that the feature will end up helping criminals. NPR's Brian Naylor covered the debate.

Tesla owners take a ride in the new Tesla "D" model Thursday after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled the dual engine chassis, a faster and all-wheel-drive version of the Model S electric sedan, at the Hawthorne Airport in Hawthorne, Calif. The D will be able to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just over three seconds. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

Tesla owners take a ride in the new Tesla "D" model Thursday after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled the dual engine chassis, a faster and all-wheel-drive version of the Model S electric sedan, at the Hawthorne Airport in Hawthorne, Calif. The D will be able to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just over three seconds.

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Tech Week: Women's Raises, Screen Time And Super-Locked Phones

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