‪Innovation Madness: Champion

With UNC and Villanova duking it out for the men’s NCAA Championship, and Connecticut and Syracuse set to face off in the women’s playoff bracket, so too have we come to the end of our own March Madness. Over the last ten days you’ve played along with us as we sparked #InnovationMadness and directed the social media spotlight on 16, then eight and then four female innovators who have made big bets and made history. Thank you to everyone who voted throughout #InnovationMadness and helped to shine a light on the incredible accomplishments of these innovators.

Today, we’re ready to reveal the woman who inspired you the most with her story of perseverance and ingenuity: Marie Van Brittan Brown.

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#InnovationMadness10: Marie Van Brittan Brown, creator of the home security system
Chosen by Jade Floyd, Senior Director of Communications
Today’s home security systems feature all the bells and whistles, from infrared cameras to home automation technology to electronic control of every light and lock. But did you know that the first modern-day home security closed-circuit television system (CCTV), alarm and entry buzzer to allow guests in was invented by Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966? An uptick in crime in her neighborhood drove her to create the system so she would feel safer while at home alone. She invented the remote monitor and control-operated door that laid the groundwork for a now multi-billion dollar market, and she takes the championship place in our bracket today.

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Marie Van Brittan Brown may be the overall winner here, but the 16 women we highlighted represent the countless other woman around the world who have, and continue to, break barriers, forge new pathways and ultimately create a better tomorrow for all of us as a result. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” and as we look for ways to lift up an inclusive and diverse set of entrepreneurs, we hope that #InnovationMadness has inspired you to think about how you can help level the playing field for all entrepreneurs—particularly women and people of color—in all places in order to create stronger communities, close the opportunity gap and scale creative solutions to persistent problems.

Learn more about the Foundation’s inclusive entrepreneurship efforts.

Innovation Madness: Final Four

It’s that time: we’ve made it to the Final Four in our #InnovationMadness bracket! You’ve cast your votes and helped us narrow down the field of fearless female innovators to the uber elite. Next, all four of these incredible innovators will go head-to-head in our final showdown. Now is the time to pick your final favorite innovator and vote for her on Twitter using her unique hashtag. Your vote could be the one that leads her, and the staff member who chose her, to victory.

We’ve had a lot of fun playing #InnovationMadness with all of you, and honoring the important and often unsung work of the women who were featured here and more broadly throughout history. Hopefully along the way you’ve learned about some impressive women innovators and the next time someone asks you to name your favorite female inventors, you’ll be able to rattle off at least 16 of them. (Check out the original #InnovationMadness post to learn about all the inspiring women we featured.)

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Head on over to Twitter and vote your chosen champion to victory! We’ll announce the #InnovationMadness winner on Monday morning, April 4. Vote often until then to make sure your favorite innovator is chosen.

FINAL MATCHUP: Mary Anderson vs. Lizzie J. Magie vs. Marie Van Brittan Brown vs. Hedy Lamarr 

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#InnovationMadness2: Mary Anderson, inventor of windshield wipers
Chosen by Julia Power, Office Coordinator

There are about 253 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today. Before Anderson’s 1903 invention of the windshield wiper, drivers would have to stop their car every few minutes to physically wipe the buildup from their windshield. Not only was this inefficient, but it was also extremely dangerous! Anderson’s invention has been helping drivers with their commutes ever since.
Vote for Mary Anderson by tweeting #InnovationMadness2.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness7: Lizzie J. Magie, creator of the Monopoly game
Chosen by Sheila Herrling, Vice President of Social Innovation

In 1903, Lizzy Magie was troubled by the vast income inequality she saw, and a capitalist system that could either put private capital to public good (think early impact investing), or benefit the few already well off. She used that personal passion to invent the board game—Landlord. The original game had rules that allowed players to live and learn the tension between and tactics for pursuing the two philosophies. Many believe that this game was the inspiration for Charles Darrow, who in 1932 turned it into Monopoly and sold it to Parker Brothers. Lizzy Magie fought for its rights, received $500 for the Landlord’s patent (no royalties) and her role as true founder of the Monopoly concept continues to be debated in the history books, but you can vote her into victory here!
Vote for Lizzie J. Magie by tweeting #InnovationMadness7.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness10: Marie Van Brittan Brown, creator of the home security system
Chosen by Jade Floyd, Senior Director of Communications

Today’s home security systems feature all the bells and whistles, from infrared cameras to home automation technology to electronic control of every light and lock. But did you know that the first modern-day home security closed-circuit television system (CCTV), alarm and entry buzzer to allow guests in was invented by Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966? An uptick in crime in her neighborhood drove her to create the system so she would feel safer while at home alone. She invented the remote monitor and control-operated door that laid the groundwork for a now multi-billion dollar market.
Vote for Marie Van Brittan Brown by tweeting #InnovationMadness10.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness15: Hedy Lamarr, creator of spread spectrum technology
Chosen by Fatimah Shaikh, Social Innovation Intern

Hedy Lamarr was not only a 1930s movie star, she also gave us an invention that still stands at the forefront of technology even today: the spread spectrum. With the help of Georg Antheil, an experimental musician, Lamarr invented the Secret Communications System, which they tried to give to the U.S. military during WWII. However, it was not until the Cuban Missile Crisis that the value of spread spectrum was realized. Today, Lamarr’s Secret Communication System is the backbone of all technological machines with wireless operations.
Vote for Hedy Lamarr by tweeting #InnovationMadness15.

Innovation Madness: Elite Eight

Thank you to everyone who has voted in our Innovation Madness! We are thrilled to be highlighting these incredible women innovators and having a little fun with this bracket at the same time. Thanks to all of your voting, we have narrowed down our original Sweet 16 innovators to the Elite Eight. You can see the bracket progress below and the new matchups. Please continue to vote on Twitter for your favorites and keep telling us why you love these fearless women!

Also, if you’re only now tuning in, we invite you to check out our original post explaining more about Innovation Madness and how we’re celebrating Women’s History Month to help recognize the remarkable women who have been influential innovators in exploration, business and the STEM fields—yet are sometimes not recognized as often as their male counterparts.

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MATCHUP ONE: Mary Anderson VS. Ada Lovelace

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#InnovationMadness2: Mary Anderson, inventor of windshield wipers
Chosen by Julia Power, Office Coordinator

There are about 253 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today. Before Anderson’s 1903 invention of the windshield wiper, drivers would have to stop their car every few minutes to physically wipe the buildup from their windshield. Not only was this inefficient, but it was also extremely dangerous! Anderson’s invention has been helping drivers with their commutes ever since.
Vote for Mary Anderson by tweeting #InnovationMadness2.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness5: Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer
Chosen by Lauren Burton, Senior Director of Interactive Strategies

Your best friend’s latest post on your news feed. That movie you have been meaning to see suggested on your Netflix. A product recommended for you on Amazon. What do these have in common? They are powered by algorithms! You can thank Ada Lovelace, who is credited with developing the first algorithm in 1842 intended to be carried out by a machine. She is sometimes known as “the first computer programmer.”
Vote for Ada Lovelace by tweeting #InnovationMadness5.

 

MATCHUP TWO: Stephanie Kwolek VS. Lizzie J. Magie

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#InnovationMadness3: Stephanie Kwolek, creator of Kevlar
Chosen by Coleen Walsh, Executive Assistant

Thanks to a determined Pennsylvania woman named Stephanie Kwolek, thousands of lives have been saved. In 1971 while working at DuPont as one of its only female chemists, Kwolek created a fiber called poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide—better known as Kevlar. Five times stronger than steel, this invaluable synthetic material has since been used in more than 200 applications, including safety helmets, aircraft parts, suspension bridge cables, parachutes and most notably bulletproof vests.
Vote for Stephanie Kwolek by tweeting #InnovationMadness3.

 Versus:

#InnovationMadness7: Lizzie J. Magie, creator of the Monopoly game
Chosen by Sheila Herrling, Vice President of Social Innovation

In 1903, Lizzy Magie was troubled by the vast income inequality she saw, and a capitalist system that could either put private capital to public good (think early impact investing), or benefit the few already well off. She used that personal passion to invent the board game—Landlord. The original game had rules that allowed players to live and learn the tension between and tactics for pursuing the two philosophies. Many believe that this game was the inspiration for Charles Darrow, who in 1932 turned it into Monopoly and sold it to Parker Brothers. Lizzy Magie fought for its rights, received $500 for the Landlord’s patent (no royalties) and her role as true founder of the Monopoly concept continues to be debated in the history books, but you can vote her into victory here!
Vote for Lizzie J. Magie by tweeting #InnovationMadness7.

 

MATCHUP THREE: Marie Van Brittan Brown VS. Grace Hopper

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#InnovationMadness10: Marie Van Brittan Brown, creator of the home security system
Chosen by Jade Floyd, Senior Director of Communications

Today’s home security systems feature all the bells and whistles, from infrared cameras to home automation technology to electronic control of every light and lock. But did you know that the first modern-day home security closed-circuit television system (CCTV), alarm and entry buzzer to allow guests in was invented by Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966? An uptick in crime in her neighborhood drove her to create the system so she would feel safer while at home alone. She invented the remote monitor and control-operated door that laid the groundwork for a now multi-billion dollar market.
Vote for Marie Van Brittan Brown by tweeting #InnovationMadness10.

 Versus:

#InnovationMadness14: Dr. Grace Murray Hopper, inventor of the first computer compiler
Chosen by Brian Sasscer, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations

Dr. Grace Murray Hopper (a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral) co-designed Harvard’s Mark 1 computer in 1944. She also invented the first computer compiler, which translated written language into computer code. As if that wasn’t enough, she helped lead the development of COBOL—one of the first user-friendly programming languages. FUN FACT—she is credited with making popular the terms “bug” and “debug” to describe a computer glitch—which in this case happened to be an actual moth in the computer. No wonder she is sometimes referred to as #AmazingGrace.
Vote for Dr. Grace Murray Hopper by tweeting #InnovationMadness14.

 

MATCHUP FOUR: Rosalind Franklin VS. Hedy Lamarr

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#InnovationMadness11: Rosalind Franklin, contributor to DNA structure discovery
Chosen by Molly Porter, Senior Project Manager

Rosalind Franklin was a pioneer in molecular biology and chemistry. Her work in x-ray diffraction techniques of DNA was a catalyst in the understanding of the structure of DNA. While her contributions to the scientific community were largely unrecognized or misattributed to other scientists during her lifetime, her discoveries unleashed endless potential for greater understanding of DNA and genetics for further generations of scientists.
Vote for Rosalind Franklin by tweeting #InnovationMadness11.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness15: Hedy Lamarr, creator of spread spectrum technology
Chosen by Fatimah Shaikh, Social Innovation Intern

Hedy Lamarr was not only a 1930s movie star, she also gave us an invention that still stands at the forefront of technology even today: the spread spectrum. With the help of Georg Antheil, an experimental musician, Lamarr invented the Secret Communications System, which they tried to give to the U.S. military during WWII. However, it was not until the Cuban Missile Crisis that the value of spread spectrum was realized. Today, Lamarr’s Secret Communication System is the backbone of all technological machines with wireless operations.
Vote for Hedy Lamarr by tweeting #InnovationMadness15.

#InnovationMadness: Who is Your Favorite Unsung Fearless Innovator?

Earlier this month, a thought-provoking video from Microsoft caught my eye. In the video, young girls are asked to name inventors. After quickly rattling off names like Nikola Tesla, Einstein and Edison, they are then asked to name female inventors. Sadly, this question is met with almost deafening silence. Each and every one of these future innovators is left stumped.

Which made me wonder, how many female innovators could I name?

One of the girls featured in the video provides brilliant insight when she says, “In school it was always a male inventor.” That definitely struck a chord with me. Thinking back to my own textbooks, it wasn’t hard to find examples of great inventors who used their grit or genius, or a combination of both, to change the world. My own science and history lessons were filled with stories of inventors and innovators commended and applauded for their ingenuity—it’s just that they happened to mostly all be men.

We know about Marie Curie and maybe a handful of other female trailblazers, but there are so many other women in arts, sports, science, technology, business and medicine who are not yet household names—not because they don’t exist but because they simply did not have the same recognition in their day, or the same spotlight and celebration of their contributions.

While we all could name Thomas Edison for instance, we probably don’t think of Margaret Knight, nicknamed “the lady Edison” and credited with receiving 27 patents in her lifetime for inventions including an internal combustion engine and shoe-manufacturing machines. Or take Beulah Louise Henry, also referred to as “Lady Edison” (notice a trend here?), who was awarded nearly 50 patents over her lifetime and had more than 100 inventions to her name including the can opener.

Women are responsible for an endless number of inventions and innovations that improve everyday life, from the car heater (Margaret A. Wilcox) to the fire escape (Anna Connelly), to the life raft (Maria Beasely) and medical syringe (Letitia Geer). It was Tabitha Babbitt who invented the circular saw, Sarah Mather, who made the underwater telescope possible, and Dr. Maria Telkes and Eleanor Raymond who built the first home entirely heated by solar power in 1947.

In the fields of science and discovery, the contributions of women have changed the world and our understanding of it. The work of Rachel Carson, a marine biologist who brought environmental concerns to an unprecedented share of the American people in her book Silent Spring, led to the nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides. Her work inspired a grassroots environmental movement that led to the creation of the EPA. Dr. Anne Tsukamoto, an inventor named on seven issued U.S. patents related to the human hematopoietic stem cell and gene transfer methods, today is credited with advancing the field of stem cell research.

As another Women’s History Month draws to an end, we owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to start changing the conversation about innovation and ensure that we are lifting up equally innovators who in years past may have been unsung, as well as those that emerge in our contemporary times.

Today, the Case Foundation team kicks off its first ever “Innovation Madness,” a clear nod to the NCAA’s basketball tournament, but also a way to celebrate women innovators that too often go unnoticed and unmentioned. Over the next ten days, we will profile fearless women who have transformed the world as we know it by modeling audaciousness and remarkable achievement across disciplines. Check out the instructions on how to participate in #InnovationMadness and vote for your favorite innovators on Twitter. While we have a serious goal of spotlighting extraordinary women so their stories are known, we also hope to have some fun along the way. I hope you’ll join us and help spread the word about the amazing accomplishments of some of these extraordinary women.

Innovation Madness: Women’s History Month Edition

UPDATED 3/26: We’ve advanced to the Elite Eight in our Innovation Madness! Check out the updated bracket here. 

With the first week of the NCAA Tournament now over, college basketball lovers are on the edge of their seats, having witnessed huge upsets and historic comebacks. For many of us, filling out a bracket year after year and seeing how our teams did allows us to be a part of this annual tradition. Yet, perhaps the best thing about March Madness and its iconic brackets are that that they can be applied to just about anything…

That’s right—we’re putting our own twist on March Madness and introducing… Innovation Madness! In celebration of Women’s History Month, we developed a special bracket to help recognize the remarkable women who have been influential innovators in exploration, business and the STEM fields—yet are not recognized as often as their male counterparts. The challenge starts today and we invite you to join in on the fun!

 

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As the remaining teams make their way from the Sweet 16 to the championship, so too will we! Follow along as we highlight each staff member’s favorite female pioneer. And just like the NCAA’s lead-in to the Final Four, along the way we will narrow down the field in head-to-head matchups. But instead of dunks and three-pointers, each matchup’s winner will be decided by your votes. While all female innovators are winners in our eyes, with this challenge one will ultimately rise to the top.

To participate, simply tweet the #InnovationMadness hashtag of your favorite innovator in each matchup to help them advance in the tournament and raise awareness of these fearless innovators. (You can vote for as many innovators as you’d like, as often as you’d like.) As an added bonus, we’ll randomly choose Twitter handles of people who participate in voting to receive an exclusive Be Fearless Innovation Madness pack. So be sure to vote and cheer your hero on to victory!

MATCHUP ONE: Melitta Bentz vs. Mary Anderson

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#InnovationMadness1: Melitta Bentz, creator of the coffee filter
Chosen by Jessica Zetzman, Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Melitta Bentz might not be a household name, but her innovation certainly is. If you are one of the more than 150 million Americans who enjoy grounds-free, non-bitter coffee every morning, you have Melitta Bentz and her patented 1908 innovation, the coffee filter, to thank.
Vote for Melitta Bentz by tweeting #InnovationMadness1.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness2: Mary Anderson, inventor of windshield wipers
Chosen by Julia Power, Office Coordinator

There are about 253 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today. Before Anderson’s 1903 invention of the windshield wiper, drivers would have to stop their car every few minutes to physically wipe the buildup from their windshield. Not only was this inefficient, but it was also extremely dangerous! Anderson’s invention has been helping drivers with their commutes ever since.
Vote for Mary Anderson by tweeting #InnovationMadness2.

MATCHUP TWO: Stephanie Kwolek vs. Amelia Earhart

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#InnovationMadness3: Stephanie Kwolek, creator of Kevlar
Chosen by Coleen Walsh, Executive Assistant

Thanks to a determined Pennsylvania woman named Stephanie Kwolek, thousands of lives have been saved. In 1971 while working at DuPont as one of its only female chemists, Kwolek created a fiber called poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide—better known as Kevlar. Five times stronger than steel, this invaluable synthetic material has since been used in more than 200 applications, including safety helmets, aircraft parts, suspension bridge cables, parachutes and most notably bulletproof vests.
Vote for Stephanie Kwolek by tweeting #InnovationMadness3.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness4: Amelia Earhart, aviation pioneer
Chosen by Allyson Burns, SVP of Communications and Marketing

Amelia Earhart is oft-cited when it comes to female innovators—and for good reason. An aviation pioneer and record setter, she was truly fearless. Her willingness to break barriers for women wasn’t limited to just aviation—she was also a tireless advocate for equal rights and helped transform the way women view themselves and their opportunities in the world.
Vote for Amelia Earhart by tweeting #InnovationMadness4.

MATCHUP THREE: Ada Lovelace vs. Dr. Virginia Apgar

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#InnovationMadness5: Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer
Chosen by Lauren Burton, Senior Director of Interactive Strategies

Your best friend’s latest post on your news feed. That movie you have been meaning to see suggested on your Netflix. A product recommended for you on Amazon. What do these have in common? They are powered by algorithms! You can thank Ada Lovelace, who is credited with developing the first algorithm in 1842 intended to be carried out by a machine. She is sometimes known as “the first computer programmer.”
Vote for Ada Lovelace by tweeting #InnovationMadness5.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness6: Dr. Virginia Apgar, creator of the “Apgar Score”
Chosen by Louise Storm, Chief of Staff to the CEO

The phrase “Apgar Score” may only be familiar to you if you’ve been in a labor and delivery room, but chances are you’ve benefitted from it. Devised by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1953 as the first standardized method of evaluating newborns at birth, and five minutes after birth, this eponymous score has enabled doctors and nurses to know how to best take care of their newest patients for decades.
Vote for Dr. Virginia Apgar by tweeting #InnovationMadness6.

MATCHUP FOUR: Lizzie J. Magie vs. Josephine Cochrane

 

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#InnovationMadness7: Lizzie J. Magie, creator of the Monopoly game
Chosen by Sheila Herrling, Vice President of Social Innovation

In 1903, Lizzy Magie was troubled by the vast income inequality she saw, and a capitalist system that could either put private capital to public good (think early impact investing), or benefit the few already well off. She used that personal passion to invent the board game—Landlord. The original game had rules that allowed players to live and learn the tension between and tactics for pursuing the two philosophies. Many believe that this game was the inspiration for Charles Darrow, who in 1932 turned it into Monopoly and sold it to Parker Brothers. Lizzy Magie fought for its rights, received $500 for the Landlord’s patent (no royalties) and her role as true founder of the Monopoly concept continues to be debated in the history books, but you can vote her into victory here!
Vote for Lizzie J. Magie by tweeting #InnovationMadness7.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness8: Josephine Cochrane, inventor of the dishwasher
Chosen by Arlene Corbin Lewis, Vice President of Communications

It’s said that Josephine Cochrane once declared, “If nobody else is going to invent a dish washing machine, I’ll do it myself!” After washing one dinner plate too many, Cochrane took matters into her own dishpan hands and invented this kitchen essential in the late 1800’s. She went on to start a company to manufacture the dishwashers, which eventually became KitchenAid. From Cochrane’s moxie, to the soap, water, time and money the dishwasher saves, there’s a lot to love about this household appliance.
Vote for Josephine Cochrane by tweeting #InnovationMadness8.

MATCHUP FIVE: Madam C.J. Walker vs. Marie Van Brittan BrownIM5 9-10

#InnovationMadness9: Madam C.J. Walker, hair care entrepreneur
Chosen by Jean Case, CEO

Madam C. J. Walker was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist and a political and social activist. When she began suffering from a scalp ailment that caused her to lose her own hair, she invented a line of hair care products to improve her condition. She started traveling and selling her product line to help others. Before long, her savvy business skills lead her to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of her time. Eulogized in 1919 as the first female self-made millionaire in America, she became one of the wealthiest African American women in the country and an influential philanthropist, leaving two-thirds of her estate to charity when she passed away.
Vote for Madam C.J. Walker by tweeting #InnovationMadness9.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness10: Marie Van Brittan Brown, creator of the home security system
Chosen by Jade Floyd, Senior Director of Communications

Today’s home security systems feature all the bells and whistles, from infrared cameras to home automation technology to electronic control of every light and lock. But did you know that the first modern-day home security closed-circuit television system (CCTV), alarm and entry buzzer to allow guests in was invented by Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966? An uptick in crime in her neighborhood drove her to create the system so she would feel safer while at home alone. She invented the remote monitor and control-operated door that laid the groundwork for a now multi-billion dollar market.
Vote for Marie Van Brittan Brown by tweeting #InnovationMadness10.

MATCHUP SIX: Rosalind Franklin vs. Marion Donovan

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#InnovationMadness11: Rosalind Franklin, contributor to DNA structure discovery
Chosen by Molly Porter, Senior Project Manager

Rosalind Franklin was a pioneer in molecular biology and chemistry. Her work in x-ray diffraction techniques of DNA was a catalyst in the understanding of the structure of DNA. While her contributions to the scientific community were largely unrecognized or misattributed to other scientists during her lifetime, her discoveries unleashed endless potential for greater understanding of DNA and genetics for further generations of scientists.
Vote for Rosalind Franklin by tweeting #InnovationMadness11.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness12: Marion Donovan, creator of the disposable diaper
Chosen by Emily Yu, Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships

Frustrated by the thankless, repetitive task of changing her youngest child’s soiled cloth diapers, bed sheets and clothing, Marion Donovan decided to craft a waterproof diaper cover to keep her baby—and the surrounding area—dry. Unlike the rubber baby pants that were already on the market, Donovan’s design did not cause diaper rash and did not pinch the child’s skin. Her next project was a fully disposable diaper, for which she had to fashion a special type of paper that was not only strong and absorbent, but also conveyed water away from the baby’s skin. Donovan’s inventions have changed the lives of babies—and parents—ever since.
Vote for Marion Donovan by tweeting #InnovationMadness12.

MATCHUP SEVEN: Madeleine Vionnet vs. Grace Hopper

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#InnovationMadness13: Madeleine Vionnet, creator of the bias cut
Chosen by Sean Tennerson, Social Innovation Program Assistant

Madeleine Vionnet may not be a name you hear much outside of the history of women’s fashion, but her innovative approach to women’s clothing will have shaped many of the pieces in your own closet. Vionnet was determined to break from tradition in fashion and liberate the female body from stays and corsets. She went on to invent the bias cut, and through the inspiration of Greek art, created garments that celebrated the shape and movement of a woman’s body—clinging to and fluidly following its natural movement. She was so committed to designing dresses that represent the personality of the wearer that she was known to say, “when a woman smiles, then her dress should smile too.”
Vote for Madeleine Vionnet by tweeting #InnovationMadness13.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness14: Dr. Grace Murray Hopper, inventor of the first computer compiler
Chosen by Brian Sasscer, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations

Dr. Grace Murray Hopper (a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral) co-designed Harvard’s Mark 1 computer in 1944. She also invented the first computer compiler, which translated written language into computer code. As if that wasn’t enough, she helped lead the development of COBOL—one of the first user-friendly programming languages. FUN FACT—she is credited with making popular the terms “bug” and “debug” to describe a computer glitch—which in this case happened to be an actual moth in the computer. No wonder she is sometimes referred to as #AmazingGrace.
Vote for Dr. Grace Murray Hopper by tweeting #InnovationMadness14.

MATCHUP EIGHT: Hedy Lamarr vs. Susan Kare

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#InnovationMadness15: Hedy Lamarr, creator of spread spectrum technology
Chosen by Fatimah Shaikh, Social Innovation Intern

Hedy Lamarr was not only a 1930s movie star, she also gave us an invention that still stands at the forefront of technology even today: the spread spectrum. With the help of Georg Antheil, an experimental musician, Lamarr invented the Secret Communications System, which they tried to give to the U.S. military during WWII. However, it was not until the Cuban Missile Crisis that the value of spread spectrum was realized. Today, Lamarr’s Secret Communication System is the backbone of all technological machines with wireless operations.
Vote for Hedy Lamarr by tweeting #InnovationMadness15.

Versus:

#InnovationMadness16: Susan Kare, Apple designer
Chosen by Tess Diefendorf, Communications Intern

If you are a Mac computer owner then you have seen the designs created by Susan Kare. Kare is an artist and graphic designer who was part of the original Apple Macintosh design team. During her time at Apple in the 1980s, Kare designed many typefaces, icons and original marketing materials. She created the Chicago, Monaco and Geneva typeface, which are still widely used today. Her countless designs helped create the first taste of human-computer interaction.
Vote for Susan Kare by tweeting #InnovationMadness16.