Comments on: Be Yourself, Do What You Love, Wear What You Want (Ada Lovelace/Coder Barbie/Mashable Follow-Up)

By: Rebecca Zook

Rebecca Zook — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:44:10 +0000

Steve, thanks for stopping by! I had never heard of Margaret Hamilton and I’m glad to learn about her!

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:23:07 +0000

Rebecca, just wanted to point you to a frequently-overlooked role model:

http://authors.library.caltech.edu/5456/1/hrst.mit.edu/hrs/apollo/public/people/mhamilton.htm

By: Rebecca Zook

Rebecca Zook — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:27:38 +0000

Andrew, thanks for all your comments! I look forward to checking out those videos you mentioned.

You’re right! Lovelace herself saw the comparison between her work as a programmer and the Jacquard looms.

When she described the Analytical Engine in her “Notes,” Lovelace wrote, “We may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.”

(Quote courtesy of http://plus.maths.org/issue34/features/ada/index.html)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:24:07 +0000

We apologise for the fault in the links. Those responsible have
been sacked. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked have also been sacked. Go check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORY-mXXgJg4

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:19:55 +0000

And of course it cuts the link off… Hrumph. As I said, you should watch through all five parts of this Connections video over on YouTube:

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:18:21 +0000

Of course, Countess Lovelace was in something of a unique position that enabled her to fully take advantage of the work that Babbage was doing. As we know, computer programming combines the worst aspects of both literature and mathematics, viz., you have to write a lot, and it all has be exactly correct. Lady Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron (yes, that Byron), and was aquainted with Charles Dickens (yes, that Dickens) as well as Charles Wheatstone and Michael Faraday (who developed the Wheatstone bridge and electricity, respectively). She was also tutored by Augustus De Morgan, who helped formalize logic and algebra (giving us De Morgan’s laws).

Lady Lovelace was probably also assisted in her development of computer programming by being an extermely fashionable lady. Being the daughter of Lord Byron and Countess Lovelace, she was of course invited to all the finest parties, where she had to wear the finest outfits (such as shown above, with all sorts of lace and patterny bits). Well, the best fabrics, such as fine silks, were done on Jacquard looms. Now, to find out why a weaving machine developed by a debtor French patent clerk was vital to the development of computer programming, you should watch through all five parts of this “Connections” video over on YouTube:
.

By: Rebecca Zook

Rebecca Zook — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:22:05 +0000

You’re welcome! I’m so glad to hear your thoughts. thanks for stopping by!!

By: Luseea

Luseea — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:16:26 +0000

With great admiration towards you, Rebecca. I am so glad that you researched and wrote about this topic. I found the article through Mashable. Thanks again for the personal reply. I will repeat the link you gave for the Barbie here, in case somebody else is interested in pre orders (like you, I don’t work for Mattel either :*D ):
Lucia
http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4032107

By: Rebecca Zook

Rebecca Zook — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:52:28 +0000

Constance, thanks for stopping by! I checked out your website and I really liked the featherhouse designs. Do you work with your daughters? I especially enjoyed Katy-Rose’s alphabet illustrations.

It’s funny you mention legally blonde (coincidentally, I totally love that movie) — it seems like even movies (or dolls) we might think of as “silly” can still have a big, inspirational impact on little girls.

Another blogger, Carol Dekkers, also mentioned the connection between Legally Blonde and Coder Barbie:. My favorite part of her post is, “Maybe we can even anticipate “Speaker of the House” Barbie, “Nobel Peace Prize” Barbie, “Research” Barbie, and “Major CEO” Barbie in the future…”

By: Rebecca Zook

Rebecca Zook — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:47:32 +0000

Sue, thanks for your thoughts as always! I’m glad that you have a workplace where you feel comfortable wearing what you want!