Why I'm Celebrating Ada Lovelace on International Women's Day
The original Poetical Scientist: half artist, half technologist.
Today is International Women's Day. LinkedIn asked me who I'd like to celebrate. For me, it's Ada Lovelace. Celebrated as the first computer programmer, Lovelace was a poet AND a computer scientist—the first "poetical scientist," as she called herself: half artist, half technologist.
The daughter of poet Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke Byron, she translated and annotated an article by an Italian mathematician on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Her annotations included a method for calculating Bernoulli numbers, effectively creating the first computer program1.
Lovelace saw the Analytical Engine as weaving "algebraic patterns" analogous to how the Jacquard loom wove flowers and leaves. This was a recognition of the potential for computers to manipulate symbols based on rules akin to human creativity or intelligence.
Her insights went beyond programming; she envisioned a future where computers could extend beyond number-crunching to create music or graphics. That’s right: she envisioned Generative over 200 years ago!
She was the first to view that computers and humanity are complementary, a significant departure from the prevailing view. She viewed machines as being able to handle tasks beyond human capability, augmenting human potential and creativity.
The programming language Ada is named in her honor. Ada Lovelace Day recognizes the contributions of women to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So, today, she’s my nomination to celebrate on this International Women’s Day!
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https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ada-Lovelace
In case you want to go deeper on Ada Lovelace, she’s one of the stars of the show in "The Innovators" by Walter Isaacson, and excellent book. He delves into the history of the digital revolution. It’s a saga of the collaborative genius that shaped the modern technological landscape, including the pivotal roles of Ada Lovelace, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs in driving innovation and transforming ideas into reality.
Isaacson emphasizes the importance of collaboration and how these innovators worked together to bring about groundbreaking advancements in technology.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Innovators/Walter-Isaacson/9781476708706
https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Hackers-Geniuses-Created-Revolution/dp/1476708703
Lovely tribute Mark, much appreciation! I've always thought Ada's surname is so very apt... "love" and "lace" ... hinting at the networks we're all so familiar with now :)