jjares reviewed Ada Lovelace: The Life and Legacy of the Math Prodigy Who Pioneered Computer Science on + 3537 more book reviews
Most everyone knows that Ada Lovelace was the only legitimate child of Lord Byron. However, her claim to fame is related to computers. She was a contemporary of notable figures such as Charles Babbage (the father of the computer) and Mary Somerville (an early female scientist and mathematician). Ada translated Babbage's scientific conference paper about the Analytical Machine into French. Because she could interpret his writing and explain it in layman's terms, it was popular reading. She was forgotten after her death at the age of thirty-six.
However, Alan Turing, the most important proponent of theoretical computer science, wrote an objection to something Lady Lovelace had written, which led scientists to look up her work. They learned that she had far more understanding of the uses of computers -- and she lived one hundred years before they were invented.
However, Alan Turing, the most important proponent of theoretical computer science, wrote an objection to something Lady Lovelace had written, which led scientists to look up her work. They learned that she had far more understanding of the uses of computers -- and she lived one hundred years before they were invented.
