Title :
Thelma Estrin, biomedical engineer: a pioneer of applied computing
Author :
Nebeker, Frederik
Author_Institution :
Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ, USA
fDate :
10/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
An account is given of the career of Thelma Estrin. Estrin entered engineering because of the urgent need for workers in the defense industries during World War II. After earning a Ph.D degree in electrical engineering in 1951, she worked in medical electronics (mainly electroencephalography) and on the design and construction of a digital computer (the WEIZAC). In 1960 she began a long association with UCLA´s Brain Research Institute, where she organized and directed the Data Processing Laboratory. Estrin pioneered in the application of computers to biomedical research-especially in the areas of data acquisition and graphic display-and health-care delivery. In addition, she has done much to increase the number of women in engineering, both by direct efforts to assist others and by providing a role model
Keywords :
biographies; history; medical computing; Thelma Estrin; WEIZAC; applied computing; biomedical research; data acquisition; electroencephalography; graphic display; health-care delivery; medical electronics; role model; Biomedical computing; Biomedical engineering; Data processing; Defense industry; Design engineering; Electrical engineering; Electroencephalography; Engineering profession; Industrial electronics; Military computing;
Journal_Title :
Proceedings of the IEEE
