New Research Explodes Myths About Ada Lovelace (ox.ac.uk)

Two mathematics historians investigated the Lovelace-Byron family archives (which are available online) to confirm the early mathematical prowess of Ada Lovelace for two scholarly journals. Slashdot reader bugs2squash shares a post from the Oxford Mathematical Institute: The work challenges widespread claims that Lovelace's mathematical abilities were more "poetical" than practical, or indeed that her knowledge was so limited that Babbage himself was likely to have been the author of the paper that bears her name. The authors pinpoint Lovelace's keen eye for detail, fascination with big questions, and flair for deep insights, which enabled her to challenge some deep assumptions in her teacher's work. They suggest that her ambition, in time, to do significant mathematical research was entirely credible, though sadly curtailed by her ill-health and early death.
Ada Lovelace died in London at age 36.

Comments

Sounds like somone I know

[phantomfive]

The work challenges widespread claims that Lovelace's mathematical abilities were more "poetical" than practical, or indeed that her knowledge was so limited that Babbage himself was likely to have been the author of the paper that bears her name. The authors pinpoint Lovelace's keen eye for detail, fascination with big questions, and flair for deep insights,

If you keep looking at the big picture, and have a flair for deep insights, soon you'll discover eye gone values and be as impressive as Malcolm Gladwell.

Wolfram did an analysis of her situation, and suggests that her capability was like that of a competent graduate student, ready to do some good work (and be a reliable manager for Babbage, who lacked self-management skills) if life (and death) hadn't intervened. The paper talks about "exploding myths" but it doesn't really, Lovlace is already extremely well revered by many, and the people who claim she is overrated are in the minority.

Re:Sounds like somone I know

[AmiMoJo]

I guess they are referring to the persistent narrative that she was some kind of fraud and generally bad person. For various reasons a relatively small but vocal group of people feel threatened and upset by the idea of a woman being instrumental in the early development of computers.

I could write at length about the different reasons for this, but what it boils down to is that they are debunking it. In an age where NASA has to debunk "child sex slaves on Mars" this stuff does, unfortunately, need to be said.

Re:Sounds like somone I know

[Sumus Semper Una]

Agreed about the benefits of men and women working together. But don't make the mistake of thinking that universities are the only ones guilty of building walls between the sexes. Religions, legislators, media figures, universities... All have members guilty of creating or perpetuating divisions between the sexes for various reasons and with varying political leanings.

Don't get me wrong, it's good to point out the divisiveness caused by some university courses or teachers. Just don't lose sight of the existence of a larger problem.