That's Christmas 365: Fantastic New Christmas Gift Ideas for the Gamers ...

That's Christmas 365: Fantastic New Christmas Gift Ideas for the Gamers ...: MixRift is an exciting indie mixed reality gaming developer.  Here are their latest gaming titles which will all make perfect Christmas gift...

That's Christmas 365: This Christmas gift them some Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

That's Christmas 365: This Christmas gift them some Ray-Ban Meta Glasses: What are they? The Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses are smart eyewear that look much like traditional sunglasses (or prescription glasses) but with b...

That's Business: Don't Bin Your Old Windows 10 Machines: London Soc...

That's Business: Don't Bin Your Old Windows 10 Machines: London Soc...: As companies across the our capital city, London , upgrade their IT hardware, a locally-based social enterprise outfit is urging businesses ...

That's Health: Staffordshire tech experts slash ambulance waiting...

That's Health: Staffordshire tech experts slash ambulance waiting...: Patients are waiting shorter times for ambulances thanks to Staffordshire digital technology experts who are set to save the NHS in excess o...

Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day – Honouring the World’s First Computer Programmer

Every 14th October, Ada Lovelace Day shines a light on the often-overlooked achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

Named in honour of Ada Lovelace, the visionary mathematician widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer, this day is an inspiring reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we can go when equality and curiosity meet innovation.

Who Was Ada Lovelace?

Born Augusta Ada Byron in 1815, Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron and mathematician Annabella Milbanke. 

While her father’s fame stemmed from poetry, it was her mother’s passion for mathematics that truly shaped Ada’s destiny.

As a young woman, Ada developed a fascination with machines and mathematics, which led to her collaboration with Charles Babbage on his design for the Analytical Engine, an early mechanical general-purpose computer. In her notes on Babbage’s machine, Ada described how it could be programmed to perform complex calculations, and even generate music and art if given the right data.

These insights, written in the 1840s, predated the first working computers by over a century. Her vision was so far ahead of its time that she’s now celebrated as a pioneer of computing and the first to truly grasp the potential of software.

What Is Ada Lovelace Day?

Founded in 2009 by Suw Charman-Anderson, Ada Lovelace Day is celebrated on the second Tuesday of October each year. It’s a global event that highlights the achievements of women in STEM and aims to encourage more young women and girls to pursue careers in these fields.

The day is marked with talks, workshops, educational programmes, and online celebrations that showcase the vital role women play in advancing science and technology. From physicists and programmers to engineers and innovators, Ada Lovelace Day is about giving recognition and visibility to women who are shaping our future.

Why Ada Lovelace Day Matters

Despite progress in gender equality, women remain underrepresented in STEM industries. Ada Lovelace Day helps to challenge stereotypes, promote role models, and inspire the next generation to dream big. It reminds us that innovation thrives on diversity—and that women have always been part of the story, even when history forgot to write them in.

How You Can Celebrate

Learn About Ada Lovelace – Read about her life, her groundbreaking ideas, and how they continue to influence computing today.

Support Women in STEM – Share stories of female scientists, engineers, and technologists who inspire you.

Attend Events – Look out for Ada Lovelace Day Live events, online talks, and workshops celebrating women in STEM.

Encourage the Next Generation – Support girls’ STEM education initiatives, or simply inspire curiosity through conversation and example.

A Legacy of Imagination and Intelligence

Ada once described her approach to mathematics as “poetical science”, a beautiful blend of logic and creativity. It’s a phrase that perfectly captures why her story still resonates today. She saw machines not as cold mechanisms, but as tools for imagination and human potential.

On Ada Lovelace Day, we celebrate her genius and the countless women who’ve followed in her footsteps, proving that innovation knows no gender, only passion, vision, and perseverance.

That's Christmas 365: Choosing a Bedroom TV as a Christmas Present for C...

That's Christmas 365: Choosing a Bedroom TV as a Christmas Present for C...: Finding the perfect Christmas present for children and teenagers can be tricky.  Toys often lose their appeal as kids grow older, while clot...

That's Business: The Best Free Antivirus Programmes of 2025

That's Business: The Best Free Antivirus Programmes of 2025: Stay safe without spending a penny Cyber-threats are always evolving: malware , phishing , ransomware , zero-day threats … the lot. But not...

That's Business: The first comprehensive performance test of UK mob...

That's Business: The first comprehensive performance test of UK mob...: The UK’s four mobile operators, Three , O2 , Vodafone and EE , offer a slightly better service than the cheaper third party operators using...

Lord Stevens backs VigilAuntie app to safeguard women and girls

Lord John Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Patron of the north-east-based charity Right to Resist, is overseeing the launch of a new personal safety app, named VigilAuntie, at Newcastle University.

“The need to protect women and girls from assault is paramount, yet they are still vulnerable”, Stevens told That's Technology. 

“VigilAuntie is an innovative new app which tackles that problem early on, by recording and securing video evidence at a single touch so it can be used as a deterrent before an incident escalates into a crisis”.

Geography student Em Beattie is leading a team of volunteers to launch the app at Newcastle University. “VigilAuntie is a simple, effective way for us to look out for each other as students. 

Em Beattie & Lord Stevens

One click, and video is streamed and stored in the cloud, along with a location map. SMS messages with links to the video are sent to close friends, allowing them to see what’s happening live and respond. 

"The video can’t be deleted, even if your phone is taken from you. And it’s completely free, funded by donations to the charity.”

Newcastle has a history of being the first to adopt video technology. In the late 1980’s, when Lord Stevens was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, it was the first to install CCTV on a widespread basis. “The effect was dramatic”, says Stevens, “we had a 100% conviction rate on 2,750 disorder prosecutions, which was previously unimaginable. VigilAuntie brings similar benefits to safeguard people, a kind of personal CCTV”.

With a successful launch at Newcastle University, Right to Resist plans on taking VigilAuntie to other campuses in the UK, followed by a general nationwide promotion. The app is in the UK App Store and Google Play now for those who want to be among the first to have it.

https://www.vigilauntie.org

If any men are reading this who have mothers, sisters and other female relatives or friends please forward this blogpost on to them. Thank you.

That's Business: SocialBox.Biz's Long-Standing IT Reuse Innovation ...

That's Business: SocialBox.Biz's Long-Standing IT Reuse Innovation ...: SocialBox.Biz , a leading London-based Community Interest Company (CIC), is reporting a strong initial response from businesses embracing it...