The Jacquard Loom was invented in 1801 by Joseph Jacquard.
- He conceived a system that relied on stiff, pasteboard cards with various patterns of punched holes. At each throw of the shuttle a card was placed in the path of the rods. The pattern of holes in the card determined which rods could pass through4 and thus acted as a program for the loom. This control system allowed for flexibility and various levels of complexity in the patterns. 
See: Hollerith cards