James Gleick's new book "The Information" devotes an entire chapter to the fascinating story of Ada Byron. I've read thoroughly about her life (we did, after all, name our youngest daughter after her) but nothing makes her genius come to life like Gleick.

http://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/03...

It's on Kindle. Just go buy it now. The Ada stuff is in Chapter 4, location 1841. It won't disappoint.

James Gleick's The Information has a good description of those people, and is a great read otherwise as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/03...