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This article focuses on several meetings related to computer industry. The Charles Babbage Foundation held its annual meeting on 16 and 17 May 2003 in Palo Alto, California. The Babbage Foundation is a philanthropic organization, founded by Adelle Tomash and Erwin Tomash, that funds research into computer history, the computer industry, and the effects of computer technology. On Tuesday, 28 January 2003, the Royal Institution of London hosted an early evening presentation titled "Max Newman: Forgotten father of computing?" Janet Delve and David Anderson from the History of Computing Group of the University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England gave the talks and about 40 people attended.

This article focuses on experiences of several women related to computing field. Although individual experiences varied, a common thread in these stories is that women's opportunities were constrained by gender stereotypes, outright discrimination, and the demands of marriage and family. Lucy Slater received PhD's in mathematics from both the University of London, London, England and Cambridge University, Cambridge, England. She worked at Cambridge University for 30 years, using the EDSAC and other computers. Mary Lee Berners-Lee received a degree in mathematics from Birmingham University. She was one of the early programmers for the Ferranti Mark I computer. Her son Tim Berners-Lee is the creator of the World Wide Web.

Highlights several events in the computer industry as of 2001. Details on the computing history exhibitions at the National Science Museum in Tokyo, Japan; Installation of the Ferranti Pegasus in the Computing Gallery of the Science Museum in London, England; Overview of the symposium held at the Konrad Zuse Center for Information Technology in Berlin, East Germany in May 2001 to inaugurate the rebuilding of Zuse's Z3 relay computer.

Studies the prehistory of computers at the Manchester University, England. Scientific computation in Great Britain during and immediately after the World War II; Influences of computers at Manchester University; Biographies of M.H.A. Newman and F.C. Williams; Period of the start of computer research at Manchester; Continuation of the computer science research in England. INSET: Frederick Calland Williams..

Examines the role of Ferranti Ltd. in the developing computer industry in Manchester, England. Performance of Ferranti upon its entry into computer manufacturing; Mistakes committed by the firm; Comparison of the firm with other companies attempting to enter the field at the same time.

Describes the historical and scientific context of the development of computing at Manchester, England. Focus on the development of the community and the industry; Role of the National Archive for the History of Computing in preserving the heritage; Initiative of John Pickstone, the director of the Center for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Machester.