By the 1990s, synthetic voices for computers and the disabled were mostly male until researcher Ann Syrdal helped develop the first functional female synthetic voice, paving the way for AI assistants like Siri.
A naval engineer’s failed attempt to stabilize sensitive ship equipment accidentally sends a spring tumbling down a shelf, sparking the creation of the Slinky, a simple misfire that bounces its way into becoming one of the most beloved toys of all time.