On Thu, 11 Sep 1997, Nalo Hopkinson wrote:
> BTW, last evening I saw the indie sf film "Conceiving Ada" by Lynn
> Hershman Leeson. It's about a woman scientist who tries to recreate Ada
> Lovelace, daughter of poet Lord Byron, and the person who seems to have
> invented the first computer program in 1843 (this is from the program
> notes--from the film, I understood her to have invented the first
> computer programming language, inspired by Charles Babbage's 'calculating
> engine). Honourably intentioned film, but I found it to be really clunky
> science fiction. Seemed to have been written by someone who neither
> knows the genre, nor felt any responsibility to check her science. For
> instance, at one point a doctor forbids a perfectly healthy, active woman
> with a normal pregnancy from exercising until her pregnancy is over. I
> don't want this to turn into a spoiler so I'll stop here, but if anyone
> else sees it, I'd love to hear what you think. Ada Lovelace sounds like
> a great topic for a feminist sf treatment. There's also a cameo
> appearance by Timothy Leary, who was obviously in the latter stages of
> cancer when they filmed--he was absolutely gaunt. That was difficult to
> watch; reminded me of my dad's death from cancer.
As an Ada programmer with a particular interest in feminist matters, I
happen to know alot about the subject. I don't know anything about
child-rearing aspects. However, here is a synopsis of her life as I know
it.
The only legitimate daughter of Lord Byron, her mother was very, very
pissed with her father (wonder why) and didn't want Ada to be anything
like him. So, she hired all sorts of Math tutors for her daughter who
seemed to have talent in Math. Our Hero was a very good mathematician who
(among other things) translated some really important math text from one
language to another (which involves a lot of math). She became "best
friends" with Charles Babbage who was working on mechanical calculation
"engines" that are considered the first modern computers (conceptually).
Ada helped him with that work and (among other things) described how one
"engine" could be used to do many different problems by combining
intermediate results and so on... Since that is the essence of computer
programming, she is consider the first computer programmer. She also
explored the essence of computing from a theoretical perspective and is
so consdered one of the first computer scientists. The language Ada was
designed in the late-70's early-80's at the request and funding of the US
department of defence. (they pushed a lot in computers) and was named in
her honor.
In Ada's personal life: she became an alcoholic and compulsive gambler.
She finally kicked those habits only to get cancer and die in her 30's
just after coming to terms with who her father was. She was buried beside
him at her request.
_The Difference Engine_ by Gibson and Sterling is a Steam-Punk novel in
which Ada is an elusive, revered genius who in addition to being a
compulsive gambler and an alcoholic is also flighty and promiscuous. A
sort of idiot savant if you ask me. She may have actually been that way
but I certainly don't want to think so.
-- Joel VanLaven
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu May 25 2000 - 19:06:41 PDT