We may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves.
Meaning
Lovelace compared Babbage's proposed machine to the Jacquard loom, which wove designs from punched cards, to show it could handle abstract patterns, not just arithmetic. When you meet a new tool, ask what patterns it could produce beyond its obvious job, then try one small experiment.
Source: Notes on the Analytical Engine (1843)
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About the author
Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was an English mathematician and the daughter of Lord Byron. She is known for her notes on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, which include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended for a machine.
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