Famous Faces Vocabulary_Part 1

Ada Lovelace

considered the first computer programmer; wrote first algorithm for an early computing machine that existed only on paper in the 1840s. Charles Babbage asked her to translate and take notes on a French mathematician's book detailing Babbage's Analytical Engine.

Alan Turing

developed a machine during World War II that helped break the German Enigma code; also laid the groundwork for modern computing and artificial intelligence.

Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak

developed the very first Apple computer from Jobs' garage in 1976 - Apple I; first company to bring computers to the masses.

Analytical Engine

1st mechanical computer designed by Charles Babbage in the 1800s, with the help of his friend Ada Lovelace.

Lovelace Medal

Awarded each year by the British Computer Society in honor of Ada Lovelace; given to individuals who make significant contributions to the field of information systems, a subset of computer science.

AAL [initials]

Because women weren't yet accepted as intellectual equals in Ada Lovelace's time, she published her work under her initials [Augusta Ada Lovelace].

"Enchantress of Numbers"

Nickname Charles Babbage gave Ada Lovelace because of her gift and skill with interpreting and translating mathematics and science concepts.

Bill Gates

co-wrote the computer programming language BASIC in 1975 for the first microcomputer; established Microsoft, the most successful computer software company to date.

ADA programming language

computer programming language written for the U.S. Department of Defense; named after Ada Lovelace.

artificial intelligence (AI)

computers simulating human intelligence such as the ability to reason and learn; concept first presented by Alan Turing in 1950.

Charles Babbage

considered "father of the computer"; designed first ever mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine; was the blue print for other, more complex machines. Used gears to store numbers and do complicated math; designed one which used punch cards to make calculations.

Herman Hollerith

considered the 'father of modern automatic computation'. Invented the Tabulating Machine and founded the company that would later become IBM.

Difference Engine

early calculating machine invented by Charles Babbage - verging on being the first computer, designed and partially built during the 1820s and '30s.

Mary Somerville

elected with another as first women into the Royal Astronomical Society in 1835. Translated French astronomer's paper - clarified and made it accessible to non-scientists; wrote science books used as university textbooks for many years. Teacher and mentor to Ada Lovelace.

Tabulating Machine

invented by Herman Hollerith - used gears and punch cards to store information; based on the Analytical Engine, but ran on electricity; used to tabulate the 1890 U.S. Census.

Grace Murray Hopper

invented the compiler in the 1950s, a program that simplified computer language and used to develop the COBOL computer language.

Compiler

a program that converts instructions into a machine-code or lower-level form so that they can be read and executed by a computer; invented by Grace Murray Hopper.

Apple I computer

allowed users to see what they were doing on a TV screen, user friendly, and could save and load programs onto it.

"Ada Lovelace Day"

an event which takes place every October that encourages people to write blog posts about women in technology.