When Ada Lovelace first saw the Difference Engine, she became obsessed. The early computing pioneer Charles Babbage invented this gigantic gear-filled calculator and, after meeting him in 1833, Ada convinced him to work with her.

Ada's mother, Anne Isabella Milbanke, was a mathematician who wanted the right upbringing for her daughter. Ada's father was the famous poet Lord Byron. The wildness that made him an amazing poet also made Byron a lousy husband, which led Anne to leave him after Ada was born. Ada was given an unusually strict mathematical education.

Ada met Charles Babbage when she was 17 and very persistent. She begged him to take her on as a student, but he was much too busy. So when Ada saw a French article about his newest idea, the Analytical Engine, she saw her chance to impress him. She translated the paper into English and published it in 1843. But that wasn't all; she added her own notes, making it twice as long! This got Charles' attention, and their collaboration began.

Ada imagined a world where computers did more than calculations- where they could write music and become extensions of the human thought. She designed a way to program the Analytical Engine, using punch cards with a sequence of rational numbers. It was the first computer program ever!

Ada remains an inspiration to this day. Her name has become proof that women can accomplish great things in technology, computing and programming.