“The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns…
“The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns, just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.”
Today’s quote comes from Ada Lovelace.
I found this quote while researching for a post about courageous women, and it really spoke to me. It makes a connection I hadn’t thought of before. The idea that technology can create in the same way art does. It also made me think about my own life. My husband, Greg, is an engineer, and I’ve always been drawn to creativity. Maybe that’s why this idea stood out to me.
The Jacquard loom used punched cards to weave detailed patterns into fabric. In much the same way, Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine used similar instructions to perform complex calculations. Ada realized, long before most people, that creativity and technology are not opposites. They both follow patterns and build on structure, and together they can create something much more complex than either could on its own. That idea still matters today.
Women Who Change Our World
As I learned more about Ada Lovelace, I also discovered how Ada Lovelace Day began. It all began with a simple pledge:
“I will publish a blog post on Tuesday, 24th March, about a woman in technology whom I admire, but only if 1,000 other people will do the same.”
It was a small idea, but the kind that can spread. I find myself wondering what happened next.
