Ada Lovelace was the first programmer. She wrote programs for early “computers” and predicted that machines could handle music and art, not just calculations.
Lillian Gilbreth pioneered human factors engineering, using scientific methods to study how people work and optimize tool design to reduce fatigue.
Combined, their ideas form the core of modern interaction design: using technology to solve problems, but always keeping humans at the center.
Ada’s prediction that “machines could create art” has become a reality. Designers now use AI to generate sketches, color schemes, and even interactive prototypes.
Lillian’s research in human factors directly influenced Apple products, such as the pressure feedback in Mac trackpads, which significantly reduces finger fatigue, or iOS’s “Shortcuts,” which automates tasks to minimize steps.