IBM Apologizes for “Hack a Hair Dryer”

Re:IBM Apologizes for “Hack a Hair Dryer” by Cpoll on Monday December 07, 2015 @04:38PM (#10692913)

I can see the blunder, but aren't the reactions from the women already in the tech sector a non-sequitur? They're not the target audience.

The SMBC comic is right on, but "removing the stigma of math as unfeminine" is HARD, and "making math pink" is much easier, and potentially lures in more girls - maybe some of them will discover that they like math.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:IBM Apologizes for “Hack a Hair Dryer” by doughj3 on Monday December 07, 2015 @05:21PM (#10693195)

I agree with you. One of the tweets in the article says, "Yikes @IBM! I’m a girl & actually know OS Assembler language & have “hacked” your MVS operating systems." Well, sure, if you're already in tech, "hacking a hairdryer" might seem patronising, similar to "making math pink." But if you're not already in tech, a hairdryer is a relatively simple, common, and familiar device. It has potential and I'd bet it's mostly untapped[0]. It seems like the perfect kind of thing to get started with, IMO. To me, the fact that it's a "beauty product" to is irrelevant.

[0] For curiosity, I thought I'd check out results from HackADay for hairdryer hacks, there isn't much to see: https://www.google.com/search?q=site:hackaday.com+hairdryer

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:IBM Apologizes for “Hack a Hair Dryer” by brudgers on Monday December 07, 2015 @04:47PM (#10692973)

If women in the tech sector aren't qualified to comment on the worthiness of the "hack a hairdryer" approach who is? I mean, what then is the relevant experience for qualification?

[ Parent | on HN ]