Today is Ada Lovelace day.
As with many other discplines (eg maths, Science…), the history of Information Technology has been dominated by men and their achievements. Perhaps this is just because they have louder voices and let people know what they have been doing – who can tell? However, it’s undeniable that the first computer program ever was written by a woman, and that a woman strongly influenced the design of the world’s first computer. And this was in a less enlightened age when women were not meant to get involved in the affairs of men and machinery. At last the gap is narrowing for women in technology, but we still need more female role models. I’m glad things have changed, but I wish they would change faster.
Ada Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron, he of literary fame. Shortly after she was born he left England. She grew up in Engalnd, often ill and confined to bed, but eventually her outstanding ability for abstract mathematical thinking emerged.
Although the first computing machine had not been built, Ada appreciated it’s value beyond simple calculations. It is widely accepted that she wrote the first program for the Babbage Analytical Engine and she certainly had a full appreciation of how the machine would function, and proclaimed it’s potential use in science, mathematics and music whereas Babbage himself could only see it’s value as a number-cruncher.
A movement is building to get more recognition for women in technology, and 24th March is Ada Lovelace Day for bloggers everywhere to draw attention to women in technology. The growing list of blog posts is here and makes good reading.
Ada Lovelace was instrumental in the thinking that really got the ball moving in ICT. Who are your female inspirations in technology?
