By Cheryl G. Murphy, OD 
Ada Lovelace Day was held on October 16 this year. It is an internationally recognized day for celebrating the achievements of women in science, math, engineering and technology. Its namesake is honored as the “world’s first computer programmer” even though she lived prior to the invention of the computer. In the 1800’s, Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, the poet, was a well educated young woman who loved math.
Though she passed away at the early age of 36, she contributed much to the history of scientific computing by writing the mathematics behind the very first computer program and by also being the first person to recognize that someday computers would be capable of being more than just computational adding machines.
It all started in 1833 when Ada was introduced to Charles Babbage who was working on inventing what he termed “an analytical engine.” Essentially what the analytical engine would have been was the world’s first computer. They began to work together on its plans and at the end of their research, though the machine was never built, the programs for it were created…by Ada.
In 1842, Ada took great care in translating an article on the analytical engine by an Italian mathematician, Luigi Menabrea. Only Ada’s version was three times longer than his original article and included her own computer programs for the analytical engine as well as her own ideas on its potential uses aside from just math, such as manipulating symbols and playing music. The first modern computer wouldn’t be built until the 1940s by Alan Turing, inspired by Ada Lovelace’s original concepts, programs and notes.
Ada was a visionary. She was ambitious, she was an overachiever. She wasn’t afraid to think outside of the box. She was a woman in a highly dominated male field. Women venturing into a traditionally male-dominated field may be a scenario that sounds familiar today let alone over 150 years ago when Ada lived. However, things have been progressing in science and in our field, too.
Optometry is a medical profession which has evolved to include a great number of women. According to statistics from the American Optometric Association, the face of optometry is indeed changing compared to what it was decades ago. In 2010, it was reported that more than 60 percent of new optometry graduates were women. Also, “more than 40 percent of optometrists under the age of 40 are women compared with less than 3 percent of optometrists over the age of 50.” That means that if this trend continues, in the future the face a patient sees on the other side of the slit lamp may be more likely to be that of a female optometrist than of a male.
I urge you to join the world in celebrating Ada Lovelace Day each October and add Ada Lovelace to your list of famous women in science (along with the greats like Marie Curie and Sally Ride, of course.)
And here’s to all of the women scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and visionaries out there! Keep up the great work! Happy Ada Lovelace Day!
Had you ever heard of Ada Lovelace Day before? Do you know of a woman in optometry, optical or vision science who deserves recognition? Who is your favorite woman scientist? Are you surprised by the changing face of optometry with 60 percent of new optometry graduates women?
Cheryl G. Murphy, OD, practices at an independent optometric practice in Holbrook, NY. You can like her on Facebook or follow her on twitter @murphyod. To contact her: murphyc2020@gmail.com.
