Jolie HawkFeb 23, 2023
Sean Gonsalves

Another #BlackMastodon #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackTech appreciation post

Engineer Marian Croak created Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which converts voice data into digital signals for transmission over the #Internet

VoIP technology is instrumental for remote work, video conferencing like Skype, Zoom & FaceTime

She has over 200 patents in her name, more than earning her spot in the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Lift Every Voice & Sing ✊🏾

https://www.invent.org/inductees/marian-croak

Marian Croak | The National Inventors Hall of Fame

Feb 23, 2023 at 3:15amWeb
Show threadChris TrottierFeb 23, 2023
@seanalan That's so cool! #GreatApe owes so much to Marian! I owe her a debt of gratitude!
Show threadSean GonsalvesFeb 23, 2023
@atomicpoet yessir … working remotely as I do, I can’t thank Ms Marian enough!
Show threadAswath RaoFeb 23, 2023
@seanalan We were in the same area at one time. Reflected glory
Show threadgr8nanjanFeb 23, 2023
@seanalan Such an amazing woman. We have a lot to thank her for. I for one would not be able to connect with my extended family and friends all over the planet without her innovation.
Show threadScott D. Strader 😐Feb 23, 2023

@seanalan Not to be a bummer, but although she added to management of the technology, she didn't (as far as I can tell) invent VoIP. Here are some references including her original patent, which is titled "Method and apparatus for monitoring end-to-end performance in a network". Even the article you link to only states that she "worked on advancing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)." Am I missing anything here?
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP#History

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Croak

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7599359

Voice over IP - Wikipedia

Show threadSean GonsalvesFeb 23, 2023
@sstrader I don’t think she single-handedly did. She led the team that did was my understanding. Few things in tech are done by a single person e.g. Vint Cerf is called the “father of the Internet” but he didn’t invent it on his own
Show threadScott D. Strader 😐Feb 23, 2023
@seanalan Agreed, the "Great Person" idea of advancement is a nice-but-problematic shorthand. I've been in technology for the past *mumble mumble* years and always wished there was a good history book that I could offer non-tech people that clarified that lineage of technology advancement by groups. Of course, that would likely just be of interest to people who are interested in it already. :-/
Show threadScott D. Strader 😐Feb 23, 2023
@seanalan
Regarding a history book, someone recently recommended "A New History of Modern Computing" by Haigh and Ceruzzi though, embarrassingly, I've only skimmed it so far. Looking up "Vinton Cerf" gives this promising line: "[incompatible radio networks] spurred *a group led by* Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn..." (emphasis mine).
Show threadekesFeb 23, 2023

@seanalan

Still not going to celebrate software patents as those seem to comprise a large part of her submissions.

Show threadmsgbiFeb 23, 2023
@seanalan @charles_ex