Those of us who were at the Jan ’09 She’s Geeky in the Bay Area were able to learn a little about Ada Byron Lovelace and her contribution to the computing world. We also had the wonderful opportunity to see the Babbage Difference Engine in motion as it was on loan to the Computer History Museum at the time of our unconference.
Now there is something REALLY exciting happening…Film maker Rosemarie Reed is making a feature length film about Ada entitled “Byron and Babbage: A Calculating Story.”
Blogger SUW at findingada.com writes, ‘The film will be based on Ada’s letters and is, as Rosemarie describes it, “a documentary with some dramatic readings”.’ PBS National is planning on distributing this film about the first computer programmer (isin’t it great that she’s a WOMAN computer programmer!).
Now Ms. Reed is looking for people to spread the word. She needs people who are “willing to help publicize the film, be a part of the interactive website, perhaps show the film, or contribute in any other way.”
(http://findingada.com/blog/2009/10/05/byron-and-babbage-a-calculating-story/)
‘Rosemarie says, “I need letters from people stating how important a film like Ada is and how they, through their networks, can help to publicize the film. It would be great if the women have organizations they work or belong to. If they are software developers or computer experts, this would be great. It would be best if they were Americans, as the NSF (National Science Foundation) is American.”’
(http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/05/ada-lovelace-biopic.html)
This would be something wonderful to show at a Girl Geek Dinner in your area or any other gathering of Geeks. I, for one, will be sharing this at my Nashville Geek Breakfast on October 22nd.
Letters should be sent by the end of October to:
Rosemarie Reed
On the Road Productions International, Inc.
310 Greenwich Street, 21F
New York, NY 10013
Amelia in front of the Babbage Difference Engine
3 comments
Poetry News For October 12, 2009 | Poetry Hut Blog says:
October 11, 2009 at 9:08 pm (UTC -8)
[...] Ada Byron Lovelace – ‘Byron and Babbage: A Calculating Story’ a film by Rosemarie Reed [...]
Sonia Dhillon-Marty says:
November 4, 2009 at 12:20 am (UTC -8)
I will like to show this film at all girls international school in Tokyo. I am helping the school by chairing web and technology though the Parent Association. I will like to bring different speakers and events to the school to show our daughters what is out there for them in the field of Technology.
Jeanette McCrimmon says:
February 1, 2010 at 4:05 am (UTC -8)
You say ” It would be best if they were Americans, as the NSF (National Science Foundation) is American.” Why would you say that? Both Lovelace and Babbage are British as are the other scientists who have enabled today’s technologies i.e. James Clerk Maxwell, John Logie Baird, Alexander Bell. Another hijacking by the yanks or just plain old racism?