"[The Analytical Engine] might act upon other things besides..." — Ada Lovelace

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[The Analytical Engine] might act upon other things besides number, were objects found whose mutual fundamental relations could be expressed by those of the abstract science of operations, and which should be also susceptible of adaptations to the action of the operating notation and mechanism of the engine...Supposing, for instance, that the fundamental relations of pitched sounds in the science of harmony and of musical composition were susceptible of such expression and adaptations, the engine might compose elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent.

— Ada Lovelace

Sketch of the Analytical Engine Invented by Charles Babbage

Analytical Engine Computer Prototypes Notation sound Composition

About This Quote

As quoted by Menabrea, Luigi (1842). Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage Esq.. Scientific Memoirs (Richard Taylor): 694.

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I can only end by repeating what I have often said before, that I am very troublesome, &…

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The Analytical Engine has no pretensions whatever to originate anything. It can do…

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Am I too imaginative for you? I think not.

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