Black History: Spotlight on Technology

VoIP 

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also called IP telephony, is a method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia (video) sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service specifically refer to communications services (voice, fax, SMS, voice-messaging) over the Internet, rather than via the public switched telephone network or (POTS) which means plain old telephone service.

VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. Since VoIP,  includes the delivery of multimedia, it is base technology used for video conferencing software such as Skype, Zoom and

Teams etc…

“Did you know?”

Dr. Marian Rogers Croak

Most people have no idea that Marian Croak, an African American woman, is credited with initiating and furthering the development of VOIP, also known as Voice Over Internet Protocol. Her groundbreaking technology allows people to efficiently communicate through audio and/or video while using the internet. In fact, it’s the very technology used by popular companies like Skype, MagicJack, Zoom, Vonage, and more. There are hundreds of companies worldwide that offer VOIP services. They started out by offering business models and technical solutions that mirrored the architecture of the legacy telephone network, but now the industry has evolved.

The concept of federated VoIP was born which allows dynamic interconnection between users on any two domains on the Internet when a user wishes to place a call.

With that technology, calls and SMS text messages can be sent over mobile data or Wi-Fi using VOIP phones (software-based softphones or hardware devices), personal computers and tablets.

Marian’s contribution to VOIP has literally taken the internet to a new level, but sadly most people have no idea who she is!

“Did you know?”

Society would tell us that we never contributed and tell us we have no history.  So, the best way to honor our great African American contributors is to learn about who they are, and re-telling the story of the original African American contributors, the Real McCoys. (the original “Real McCoy” was African American)

“Did you know?”

Elijah McCoy

invented and patented an automatic lubricator for oiling the steam engines of locomotives and ships. Railroad engineers wanted to make sure they got his superior oil-drip cup invention and not a fake, the wanted the “The Real McCoy”