Joy Lisi Rankin

Joy Lisi Rankin is a historian and researcher who specializes in the history of computing, gender, and education in America. She is best known for her 2018 book "A People's History of Computing in the United States," which examines early computer networks and educational computing from the 1960s and 1970s. As a scholar at Michigan State University and later as a research fellow at the Data & Society Research Institute, Rankin has focused on documenting how students and teachers were among the first to use computers for creative and interactive purposes. Her work challenges common narratives about the origins of personal computing and social networking. Rankin's research highlights the role of public education in technological innovation, particularly through her examination of the PLATO system at the University of Illinois and the BASIC programming language at Dartmouth College. She has published articles in various academic journals and media outlets, including The Atlantic and Technology's Stories. Her scholarship contributes to broader discussions about gender equality in technology, the democratization of computing, and the intersection of education and digital innovation. Rankin's work emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse contributors to computing history beyond the typically celebrated Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

Readers emphasize Rankin's fresh perspective on computing history, noting how she shifts focus from Silicon Valley executives to students and educators who shaped early computer networks. Her archival research and interviews receive recognition for uncovering overlooked stories. What readers liked: - Detailed coverage of PLATO and BASIC's development in educational settings - Documentation of women's contributions to early computing - Clear writing style that makes technical history accessible What readers disliked: - Some academic passages deemed too dense - Repetition of key points - Limited coverage of computing developments outside university settings Ratings: - Goodreads: 3.8/5 (58 ratings) - Amazon: 3.9/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comment from Goodreads: "Rankin successfully challenges the 'great man' theory of computing history by showing how students and teachers drove innovation." Another reader notes: "The focus on educational computing fills an important gap, but the narrative sometimes gets bogged down in academic language."

A People's History of Computing in the United States (2018) Examines the social history of computing in American education during the 1960s-70s, focusing on networks like PLATO and the BASIC programming language at public institutions, revealing how students and teachers pioneered interactive computing before the personal computer era.

Joy Lisi Rankin has no other published books available as of 2024.

Mar Hicks - Chronicles the history of women in British computing and how they were pushed out of the field as it gained prestige. Their book "Programmed Inequality" examines similar themes to Rankin's work about gender and power in computing history.

Janet Abbate - Documents the early history of computer networks and the internet, with particular focus on the contributions of women. Their books "Inventing the Internet" and "Recoding Gender" explore parallel themes about hidden figures in computing history.

Marie Hicks - Investigates labor history and gender in early computing, particularly in academic and government settings. Their research similarly challenges traditional narratives about who shaped computing technology.

Nathan Ensmenger - Studies the social and cultural history of computing, including the masculinization of programming. Their book "The Computer Boys Take Over" examines the transformation of computing from a feminine clerical task to a masculine technical profession.

Paul E. Ceruzzi - Writes comprehensive histories of computing that emphasize institutional and educational contexts. Their work "A History of Modern Computing" covers similar ground to Rankin's research about academic computing networks and early educational computing initiatives.