Ada Lovelace: The Original Woman in Tech | Zoe Philpott | TEDxBucharest

Summary

In this engaging talk, Laura Pasquale highlights the historical neglect of women in technology and advocates for celebrating their contributions through storytelling. She focuses on Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, whose groundbreaking work in 1843 was overshadowed by her gender. Pasquale emphasizes the need for greater representation of women in tech, noting that only 14% of the current workforce is female. Through interactive performances and the creation of games and apps, she encourages audiences to discover and share more stories of remarkable women, aiming to update 'history' with 'her story' and inspire future generations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on the lack of statues representing women in history, particularly in London.
• 👩‍💻 The tech industry has a significant gender imbalance, with only 14% of workers being women.
• 📉 The number of women pursuing technology degrees is declining, dropping to less than 9%.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of sharing stories of women to inspire future generations.
• 🖥️ Ada Lovelace is highlighted as the world's first computer programmer, who was largely forgotten in history.
• 📜 The speaker aims to 'update history' to include 'her story' by showcasing remarkable women.
• 👩‍🏫 The need for mentorship is stressed, as Ada Lovelace benefited from the support of influential figures.
• 🔧 The speaker combines technology and storytelling through interactive performances, using an LED dress.
• 🎮 There are plans to create games and apps to share more stories of women in various fields.
• 🌍 The speaker calls for collaboration to ensure diverse role models are available for future generations.

Q & A

What prompted the speaker to reflect on the statues in London?

The speaker observed a family of tourists posing in front of a statue of a man who had been dead for 200 years and questioned the significance of such statues, especially the lack of representations of women.

What observation does the speaker make about the representation of women in historical statues?

The speaker notes that while there are many statues representing the idea of women, such as the Statue of Liberty, there are very few statues of named women from history.

What was the speaker's professional background before entering the tech field?

The speaker was originally a theatre director before transitioning into technology and education software.

What statistic does the speaker provide about women in technology in the UK?

The speaker mentions that only 14% of people currently working in technology in the UK are women, which is even lower than 20 years ago.

Who is Ada Lovelace, and why is she significant?

Ada Lovelace is recognized as the world's first computer programmer. She wrote the first complex computer program in 1843 and is notable for her foresight in understanding the potential of computers as tools of human imagination.

How did Ada Lovelace's upbringing influence her education and career?

Ada was raised by her mother, who aimed to rid her of her father's creativity and scandalous behavior through a strict education in mathematics, which ultimately contributed to her exceptional mathematical abilities.

What role did Charles Babbage play in Ada Lovelace's career?

Charles Babbage recognized Ada as an intellectual equal and encouraged her work on the Analytical Engine, which helped her develop the first complex computer program.

What impact did Ada Lovelace's work have on future generations?

Although Ada's work was largely ignored for a century, it later gained recognition through figures like Alan Turing, who brought attention to her contributions while working on artificial intelligence.

What innovation did Grace Hopper introduce in programming?

Grace Hopper introduced the groundbreaking idea of using words in programming, making it accessible to those who were not necessarily mathematicians.

What is the speaker's goal in updating 'history' to 'her story'?

The speaker aims to highlight and celebrate the contributions of women in history, using Ada Lovelace as a starting point to inspire future generations and create a more inclusive narrative.