It's the controller for a radio direction finder. The dial shows the direction the antenna is pointing. The user would listen for the signal in question while turning the antenna until the strongest signal was received.

Canary cage for a coal mine?

Sorry, but woman have no one but themselves to blame. The truth is, computer science is a difficult major. CompSci majors have to work all-nighters while the business majors are out "networking" in the bars. This is the real reason women stay out of CompSci.