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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith, B.Sc. Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum, Dip. Elec. Tech. Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint Why is electronics male-dominated? One of the things that struck me as odd since I started working for Silicon Chip is just how large a percentage of our readers and customers are male. I don’t have an exact figure, but I would guess that it is well over 90%. Why is that? Perhaps my perspective is a bit skewed because my primary mentor when I started dabbling in electronics is a female friend. And in addition to having a decent knowledge of electronics, she is also a capable computer programmer and operator. So I guess I expected to come across more women in the electronics field than I have done while running the magazine. This imbalance in electronics hobbyists is something which Jaycar’s owner, Gary Johnston, is attempting to address with their Sparkle Stitch kit. We have a review of that kit (and some of their related products) starting on page 104 of this issue. It’s a commendable effort, and the fashion aspect of it may well appeal to many girls. But I had to wonder, as I evaluated the kit, why we have to create specific kits for girls. Shouldn’t they be just as interested in ‘standard’ electronics kits? I think that most of our designs and projects should have a broad appeal. I know that there are some very talented high school students, both male and female, building our kits (and related electronics) for HSC projects. But it seems that after high school, women don’t pick up the hobby all that often (or take up electronics, computing and engineering-related careers, for that matter). We also know that girls do very well in high school subjects like mathematics and physics. These subjects require the same sort of logical thought needed to analyse and design circuits. There’s also an artistic aspect to PCB layout which I find very pleasing, quite apart from the engineering of it. And as electronics is something you can do as a hobby, there’s nothing to stop anyone (short of physical disability) from getting into it, regardless of gender. So I guess what I am saying is that it’s a fascinating field, and there ought to be a lot more females who find themselves attracted to it than we see in reality. I don’t have an explanation for that discrepancy. My daughters are too young to understand electronics just yet, but they sure do seem to be fascinated by it. My one-year-old has already started dismantling any device within her reach, and is clearly fascinated by mains cords, plugs, printers, tablets, phones and anything with flashing lights that is within her reach. Will she retain that fascination when she grows older? I don’t know. I can’t see any reason why she should not. I don’t want to push my kids into doing what I do, but I certainly wouldn’t stop them and will provide them with whatever they need to get into it, should they wish to do so. Perhaps this is a generational thing, and the situation might change over time, but I have a feeling that is not the case. It’s entirely possible that no matter how hard we try to get girls and women into “STEM” type subjects, most of them won’t be interested enough to stick with it. I hope that is not the case, though. If any readers have suggestions on how we can get girls interested in electronics and, importantly, stay interested, I would love to hear them. We publish so many different designs and projects that surely, many of them must appeal. Is it just a matter of getting their attention, or do we have to do more? Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 4 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au