The Ukrainian IT company MacPaw has released an English-language book titled "Innovation in Isolation: The Story of Ukrainian IT from 1940s to Present" about the history of technology development in Ukraine.
The book was published in collaboration with the Ukrainian publishing house Ist Publishing.
"We embarked on this project to explore our past and understand how Ukraine became a powerful technological hub. History helped us not only find answers but also shape a vision of the future, where technology enhances people's lives. For MacPaw, this book is a social and cultural project that enhances Ukraine's international reputation as a promising technological country with unique specialists and boundless potential. I am proud of our team's result and hope that readers will discover unknown pages of the history of technology and be inspired by the pioneers who worked, created, and invented despite the challenges of their time and numerous obstacles," says Alexander Kosovan, founder and CEO of MacPaw.
The first part of the book delves into the history of cybernetics in Ukraine from the 1940s to 1991 and is illustrated with archival photos. Readers will learn about the creation of the first computers in Ukraine, the engineers and scientists who initiated the "computer era," and the conditions in which they worked. The narrative in the book is based on interviews with those who personally knew the key innovators of that time.
The second part of the book features narratives about eight Ukrainian product companies, based on interviews with their leaders: Ajax Systems, Grammarly, Petcube, Readdle, Jooble, Reface, and Depositphotos.
The project was initiated before the full-scale invasion by Russia. Initially conceived as a popular science publication with an emphasis on design and visual components. The art director of the publication is graphic designer and researcher Alyona Solomadina.
The book "Innovation in Isolation: The Story of Ukrainian IT from the 1940s to the Present" is a charitable project of the company MacPaw. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be directed to the MacPaw Foundation, the corporate charitable fund that has been helping to save the lives of Ukrainian defenders and provide assistance to Ukrainians affected by the consequences of Russian aggression since the start of full-scale invasion.
Currently, the book can only be ordered in Ukraine. To learn more about the project and purchase the book, visit the website: innovation-in-isolation.com.