Reasons to celebrate: 24th March 2010

Today is Ada Lovelace day.

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace was born on 10th December 1815, the only child of Lord Byron and his wife, Annabella. Born Augusta Ada Byron, but now known simply as Ada Lovelace, she wrote the world’s first computer programmes for the Analytical Engine, a general-purpose machine that Charles Babbage had invented.

Saying it in Ada:

while women /= men loop
Ada.Text_IO.Put_Line (“Keep campaigning for equality”);
end loop;
Ada.Text_IO.Put_Line (“Celebrate”);

(I need a little pause function or, as was pointed out to me earlier, my cpu might be very busy for a very long time.)

With any long term effort it is important to pause periodically to review progress and, if necessary, course correct.

Ada had been taught mathematics from a very young age by her mother and met Babbage in 1833.

I love finding out about things through people. To be infected by another’s enthusiasm is a wonderful feeling. Moving in a slipstream is so much easier; individual progress may be a little impeded but the broader campaign benefits!

Ada Lovelace day is a day to celebrate women in technology.
I would like to thank all the women who invite me into their slipstreams.