Ada Lovelace: the first woman in IT?

This week saw Ava Lovelace Day. Back in 1843 Ada Lovelace, daughter of the poet Lord Byron, created the first organised algorithm, which was then used for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, the first design for a general-purpose computer. Unfortunately, the steam-powered prototype was never built, but Ava showed how it could have been used to process algebra.

To celebrate one of the first women in technology, over at The New Scientist they have imagined what an interview with Ava might have sounded like, whilst The Wall and Mashable reflect that over 200 years later women still make up only 25% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Nevertheless, the 21st century sees some impressive women in technology; the likes of Marissa Mayer, Sheryl Sandberg and Martha Lane Fox, but also an increasing number of developers, technical writers and project managers in companies across the country.

We think Ava would be proud of her legacy.

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