It really bothers me that Google hijacks Jacquard's name for their own project. In the future the Google search engine will bury Jacquard's innovation in /dev/Internet/dustbin
With decency, they could at a minimum have acknowledged his existence, creations, influence, and inspiration.
While I don't agree with mkempe, I don't see why this kind of messages should be downvoted... Choosing a name is a difficult task, and honoring someone with their name in a new creation is a noble gift, but the page does not explain why it was named like that, and so it remains elusive. Google could have take the time to explain it. But it's not like it's a shame, mkempe.
Also, if you could see who downvoted you, you could perhaps start a little war, so I don't think that such a conversation system would be better.
> While I don't agree with mkempe, I don't see why this kind of messages should be downvoted.
Because mkempe is accusing Project Jacquard of appropriating a historical figure's name for their own gain. Somehow, it seems mkempe figures that the act of paying homage cannot be done without a citation or fair use disclaimer.
It's one thing to suggest adding a note about the historical Jacquard, another to take umbrage at an innocent name. I really don't think that sort of response should be encouraged.
Otherwise, I suppose someone should tell Project Euler that they need to explain who Euler is on their homepage.
It's not explicitly stated, but I agree that if you've heard of Euler the homage is obvious.
Likewise, if you've heard of Jacquard or his invention, then the homage here is obvious as well. Neither case requires a footnote explaining the reference.
You're being downvoted because you're making a false accusation. The very fact that a multi-billion dollar company used by billions of people uses the name "Jacquard" is the biggest acknowledgement and recognition he could have ever gotten these days. Don't you think the scientists at Google are themselves big fans of his and decided to name their technology as a tribute? Besides, Google doesn't need to explain who Jacquard is because:
1) it's just a google search away :)
and
2) it will be mentioned by many articles and comments on the web, exhibit A being your comment :)
Anyway, I think you are both over-reacting and being needlessly negative. I mean, really, Jacquard is not the most marketing friendly name, they picked it because they love his work and now we're all talking about him so relax everyone.
Seriously though, do you actually believe scientists at Google or even managers want to cash in on an obscure scientist when they already have adword and adsense? How would that make any sense? This was obviously a tribute, come on. There may be tons of reasons to criticize Google but this is not one of them.
Both Blaise Pascal and Lady Ada Lovelace were honored explicitly when these languages were named after them. (I got my programming start with UCSD Pascal!) Their creators --Niklaus Wirth and Jean Ichbiah-- never dreamed of using these names without explicit tribute, since the naming was intended as a tribute.
The other programming languages you mention I don't know as much about -- Python users do seem to be regularly paying homage to Monty Python, so I'm quite happy with their intellectual and cultural honesty.
As for Turing, how could it ever be acceptable for someone to name a product after him and not explicitly mention him, his work, or his importance?
I love computers, software, and the people who made it possible, from Jacquard to Turing via Babbage and their heirs, friends, emulators, and more. I include a number of Ancient Greek philosophers in the lot. We have a responsibility to honor history and our ancestors; Google should, too. It's not a difficult proposition. Not doing it is unbecoming.
What about all the people who made great contributions that go unrecognized? Is it not more of a shame that the project was not named after one of them?
With decency, they could at a minimum have acknowledged his existence, creations, influence, and inspiration.