NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 16: Marian Croak, Vice President, Access Strategy & Emerging Markets, Google addresses the gathering during the Google event, on December 16, 2015 in New Delhi, India. Pichai, who is on an official trip to India, said Google plans on expanding the Helping Women Get Online program to 300,000 villages in India and will bring Wi-Fi to 100 railway stations. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Roommates, Have you ever texted in to vote for your favorite contestant during a live show? How about hopping on a call from your computer? If so, you can thank the brilliant innovator that were celebrating today, Dr. Marian Croak, who happens to be one of only two Black women in the National Inventors Hall of Fame!
Dr. Marian Croak is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols technology. Without this technology, you wouldnt be able to convert your voice into a digital signal or make calls directly from a computer or digital device.
Her career took off while working at AT&T Bell Laboratories. It was there that she furthered technology in areas such as voice and text messaging on cellular phones.
Croak joined Google in 2014, where she now is vice president of engineering and leads the Research Center for Responsible AI and Human Centered Technology.
Not only is she an innovator in the voice and data communication fields but she and her team also developed technology that allows people to send text-based donations to charity.
Hit play above to learn more about Marian Croak and how she’s made history.
