April 20, 2018 Friday
Bedtime Story
Note A of Ada Lovelace - Part 13
Tonight we are continuing with the Note A
of Ada Lovelace wherein, like a true scientist, she is despairing that most
human apes lack the farsightedness to grasp the capability of any new
technology that scientific and mathematical endeavor generates.
You would be surprised to know that even a
place like Palo Alto Research Corporation which was doing cutting-edge computer
science innovation in 1970s, discouraged color graphics on their first model of
Xerox alto.
When the two computer scientists at PARC
Richard Shoup and Alvy Ray Smith developed and improved SuperPaint, the
pioneering graphics program and framebuffer (RAM dedicated to video) computer
system – a technological event that would stand the science of video on its ear
– can you even remotely guess what kind of award they were bestowed with?
They are first nearly outlawed and given
the treatment of pariahs, and soon after, outright fired from the Computer
Science Laboratory of PARC.
Then, in those days, all the CSL team ever
thought was in terms of black and white documents and color graphics and video was
considered an expensive distraction since according to Butler Lampson, a
visionary himself, “We couldn’t afford color at the time because we couldn’t
afford the memory to drive a color frame buffer.”
Alvy Ray smith later went on to collaborate
with a little known guy called George Lucas to cofound the computer division of
a limited liability corporation called Lucasfilm and Pixar.
Ada Lovelace also mentions the science
journal Edinburg Review Volume 59 July 1834 issue of which ran a paper titled
‘Babbage’s Calculating engine’.
“These persons being likely to possess but
little sympathy, or possibly acquaintance, with any branches of science which
they do not find to be useful (according to their definition of that word), may
conceive that the undertaking of that engine, now that the other one is already
in progress, would be a barren and unproductive laying out of yet more money
and labor; in fact, a work of supererogation.
Even in the utilitarian aspect, however, we
do not doubt that very valuable practical results would be developed by the
extended faculties of the Analytical Engine; some of which results we think we
could now hint at, had we the space; and others, which it may not yet be
possible to foresee, but which would be brought forth by the daily increasing
requirements of science, and by a more intimate practical acquaintance with the
powers of the engine, were it in actual existence.
On general grounds, both of an a priori
description as well as those founded on the scientific theory and experience of
mankind, we see strong presumptions that such would be the case.
Nevertheless all will probably concur in
feeling that the completion of the Difference Engine would be far preferable to
the non-completion of any calculating engine at all.
With whomsoever or wheresoever may rest the
present causes of difficulty that apparently exist towards either the
completion of the old engine, or the commencement of the new one, we trust they
will not ultimately result in this generation’s being acquainted with these
inventions through the medium of pen, ink and paper merely; and still more do
we hope, that for the honour of our country’s reputation in the future pages of
history, these causes will not lead to the completion of the undertaking by
some other nation or government.”
Stay tuned to the voice of an average story storytelling
chimpanzee or login at http://panarrans.blogspot.com
Good night mon ami and my fellow cousin ape.
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Another great educator and a teacher that I am aware of is
Professor Subhashish Chattopadhyay in Bangalore, India.
While I narrate stories, Professor Subhashish an electronic
engineer and a former professor at BARC, does and teaches real mathematics and
physics.
He started the participation of Indian students at the
International Physics Olympiad.
Do visit him here:
All his books can be downloaded for free through this link:
For edutainment and English education of your children, I
recommend this large collection of Halloween Songs for Kids:
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