An apology to all technological feminists as I missed Ada Lovelace Day on 24th March. Thanks to Computer Weekly for pointing this out, albeit an unofficial date. I believe it is honourable to encourage a wide range of humanoid types to take up the pursuit of technology. However, the article in Computer Weekly rather re-enforces a myth that Ada Lovelace was the first programmer. Anyone who had actually read her translations and notes on L. F. Menabrea’s, of Turin, Officer of the Military Engineers, Italian article on Babbage’s Engines would recognise her insights and intelligence, but it’s a stretch to call it the first program. As stated in my blog on this subject a few days ago there is also no time-line link to the first "real" program. Whilst the revision of history (his-story), to include the valuable contribution of women is long over due, her-story will be discredited if the facts are ignored or distorted for a PC (or PC!) point-of-view! Having said all that, I still like the idea of Ada day but for what she was (which was great enough) not for what a particular movement would like her to have been. Whilst on this topic I have received from Claire Barker (Frame On Frame) the Character Breakdowns for draft II of the feature script Babbage (I will be starting soon) – so we are moving again towards a great movie.
Tomorrow I have an EPIC report for you, so watch this space.
