 |
 |
|
|
Who is
this diva?
Wanda Gass works to create the technology behind devices people use every day including cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, digital hearing aids and a host of other electronic products. Thanks to Wanda, our cell phones can take pictures; they can send text messages as well as voice messages; and we can download our favorite music to use as ring tones. Today, she's hard at work on smaller and faster communication tools so the cell phones of tomorrow can be worn on a wrist or even built into an earring.
What
do you do at work?
I am an Electrical Engineer, and
I design chips. Chips are many very small circuits that
are put into packages and then connected to a board. These
boards go inside lots of products that people use to communicate
over the Internet and to be entertained.
In short, I create the “brains” that go inside
and help run many electronic consumer products, including
modems, cell phones, radios, cameras, Internet audio players,
DVD players and projectors.
How does your job help other people?
The parts I create are used in many electronics such as
digital cameras and modems. These devices enable people
around the world to communicate without paper and use
less energy, which conserves natural resources and is
good for the environment.
Some of the products I design go into medical equipment
that is helping save lives or can be found in products
such as cochlear implants or the Segway, which gives people
with disabilities the resources to hear better or move
around with greater ease. Finally, the parts I help create
for products such as cell phones and modems, help people
communicate more broadly and rapidly than ever before.
This truly makes the world a “smaller” place.
Do you work alone or with
a team?
I interact with many people all
over the world. It would take me much longer to get my
job done if I did not have email. Many times we hold conference
calls and share documents via the computer using some
software called NetMeeting. Occasionally I have to travel
overseas to attend meetings with customers or attend conferences.
What's
the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is learning
about the products that will be needed in the future so
that I can define the right kind of processor for those
products. I also like learning because the semiconductor
industry is always changing--once a new challenge is addressed,
there are always several more challenges waiting for me.
What's
the worst part of your job?
The worst part of my job is having
to say “no” to some opportunities because
there is not enough time to get everything done.
Setting priorities and knowing which things you should
focus your energy on and what things can be done by others
allows you to do more with your time. In general, when
you first start working, your job assignments are set
by your manager, but as you become more experienced, it
is part of your job to set your own priorities and those
of the people that work for you.
Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself retired from my current
job but volunteering with organizations such as the Girl
Scouts that help girls and women find their full potential.
I would like to see more girls choose a career in engineering.
It is a great career, but many girls don’t even
consider it as an option. I would like to see the day
when the same number of girls as boys choose a career
in engineering.
What
do you do when you're not at work?
I am married to Richard who is
an investment manager. I have two daughters, Joan, who
is 14, and Barbara, who is 11. Joan has been active in
Girl Scouts since she was in the first grade and is now
working on her Silver Award for Cadette Girl Scouts.
What advice would you give
a girl about the I.T. field?
I.T. is a great field. It has changed our lives, and it
will continue to impact our lifestyle in the future. You
can make an impact on the future by studying hard in math
and science and choosing a career in I.T..
What
were your hobbies when you were 11-14?
I played the piano and was on sports teams such as basketball
and softball. I was also very active in my church group.
Describe technology you
wish was available now.
I wish there was a sensor that
could help blind people see. It would have to be something
that could turn images into sounds or words so that the
people could know where to go and what was around them.
|
|
|
|
 |
