Lady Ada and Computing

[Hove]

There's currently a dramatisation on Radio 4 of (Lady) Ada Lovelace who together with Charles Babbage built the "analytic engine" - the world's first computing machine. I'm sure it'll appear on the BBC iPlayer radio app soon.

[W. H. Heydt]

For some values of "first computing machine". An argument can be made in favor of the Anitkythera machine. Or are you going to insist that a REAL computing machine has to be both digital and general purpose?

[Hove]

For some values of "first computing machine". An argument can be made in favor of the Anitkythera machine. Or are you going to insist that a REAL computing machine has to be both digital and general purpose?

Nope, not at all - my reason for the post was actually the parallel with the original and current "Lady Ada" of Adafruit as reknowned women in computing.

You can argue with wikipedia about whether it was the first computing machine (or was it Turing's or Anikythera's) - thats where I got my "opinion" from. After hearing the dramatisation of her life, I just felt like sharing if others might be interested too.

[W. H. Heydt]

For some values of "first computing machine". An argument can be made in favor of the Anitkythera machine. Or are you going to insist that a REAL computing machine has to be both digital and general purpose?

Nope, not at all - my reason for the post was actually the parallel with the original and current "Lady Ada" of Adafruit as reknowned women in computing.

You can argue with wikipedia about whether it was the first computing machine (or was it Turing's or Anikythera's) - thats where I got my "opinion" from. After hearing the dramatisation of her life, I just felt like sharing if others might be interested too.

No argument about Ada Lovelace being important and worth learning about. I could argue that--in the development modern computing--Adm. Grace Hopper had a lot more direct influence, but both women are of interest in the field.

[DougieLawson]

I thought Grace "COBOL" Hopper was a Rear Admiral (Lower Half) before she retired from the US Navy.

[W. H. Heydt]

I thought Grace "COBOL" Hopper was a Rear Admiral (Lower Half) before she retired from the US Navy.

I was using "Adm." generically. Originally, she retired as a Captain, I believe. However, checking Wikipedia (non-controversial subject, so reasonably trustworthy), she originally retired as a Commander, while back on active duty, promoted to Captain and eventually, Commodore. When the Navy changed the rank, dropping Commodore, that rank became Rear Admiral (Lower Half), so you are correct, but I'd rather think of her as holding the rather more dignified rank of Commodore.

Rear Admiral (Lower Half) has *got* to be a rank that everyone who has it tries to get promoted out of absolutely as fast as possible.

[DougieLawson]

It seems crazy to change a distinguished title (commodore) into such outrageous silliness (rear admiral (lower half)). I think HM Royal Navy still has the older names.

[jamesh]

Same happened in the US Army IIRC, so they have starred generals instead of difference name. Or something like that.

[W. H. Heydt]

It seems crazy to change a distinguished title (commodore) into such outrageous silliness (rear admiral (lower half)). I think HM Royal Navy still has the older names.

I have encountered claims that it is a Naval tradition to address officer who holds the rank of "Captain" as "Commodore" when he is on board a ship, but not in command. It being courteous not to address him as if he had a lower rank and at the same time reserve the title "Captain" for the commanding officer (regardless of rank). It seems to come from having both a rank and a working title that are the same.

Anyone Navy (US or RN) folks (current or former) around who would care to comment?