Lambda the Ultimate

inactiveTopic Was Ada Lovelace the first computer programmer?
started 3/15/2001; 1:50:51 PM - last post 3/17/2001; 9:32:35 AM
Ehud Lamm - Was Ada Lovelace the first computer programmer?  blueArrow
3/15/2001; 1:50:51 PM (reads: 751, responses: 2)
Was Ada Lovelace the first computer programmer?
A student of mine gave the link to this page:

Holt's article argues that Ada, "had a shaky command of elementary algebra," failed to grasp trigonometry, and was at a loss when it came to calculus. According to both Holt and Woolley, Ada was a "hysteria-prone and often opium-addled" compulsive gambler, a "lusty coquette," and an unbalanced eccentric who "got swept up in the craze for mesmerism and phrenology."

Well, all I can say is that if Ada was so unworthy, we might have to find the programming language a new name. I suggest we read the name backwards.
Posted to general by Ehud Lamm on 3/15/01; 1:51:21 PM

andrew cooke - Re: Was Ada Lovelace the first computer programmer?  blueArrow
3/15/2001; 2:23:30 PM (reads: 655, responses: 1)
Some of those phrases ("hysteria" and "coquette" in particular) sound pretty laden with sexist/cultural disdain. Is an alternative explanation that the the society of the time didn't think much of women that didn't know "their place"?

Ehud Lamm - Re: Was Ada Lovelace the first computer programmer?  blueArrow
3/17/2001; 9:32:35 AM (reads: 752, responses: 0)
Quite possible. The only substantive claims are the ones about algebra, and drugs...

Notice that hysteria is quite a nice example on the conncetions between language and world-view (i.e, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis).