You may or may not realise it but today is Ada Lovelace day… Some may wonder who is Ada and others ask why does Ada matter so much… Well here goes.. Ada Lovelace is an inspirational young woman and a technology pioneer. There aren’t many female technology pioneers out there and so we love to celebrate those who are so awesome!
What did Ada do?
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, born Augusta Ada Byron and now commonly known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. Because of this, she is often described as the world’s first computer programmer.
Why does this matter
Today there are a lot less women entering the technology sector and many state that part of the problem is due to a lack of role models within the industry. As such every year technologists around the world share their female technology role models with the world in the hope that this will inspire a few more young women to consider a career in technology and potentially help to spawn the next generation of technology pioneers.
Technology today is predominantly designed and created by men but imagine a world where women designed technology for their own purposes… What would you design and how? As Sir Tim Berners-Lee said if you can imagine it you can make a computer do it! So why not give technology a try… Here are a few places to help you get started:
Anyone can inspire
What people often forget is that to inspire more young women to consider a career in IT doesn’t just involve technical women to make change happen. It actually involves all of us… You could be a parent, teacher, grandparent, friend or even TV personality. Every person that influences a young person today has the ability to make change happen. Don’t be scared to suggest career paths to young people that may seem different from the stereotypical roles that you might expect them to go into. Open their hearts and minds to new possibilities and see what happens!
GirlyGeekdom 