For Kids (And Adults too)

A Quiz: Little Known Facts in the History of Computing

Who programmed the world's first all-electronic Programmable Computer?

ENIAC programmers

Women! Frances Elizabeth Betty Snyder Holberton, Betty Jean Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum and Frances Bilas Spence were the first programmers of the ENIAC computer.

Who were the world's first teachers of programming for modern computers?

Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum and Frances Bilas Spence went to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, in Aberdeen, MD, after WWII to supervise the reinstallation of the ENIAC at Aberdeen (from the University of Pennsylvania). They also taught the first classes in computer programming.

Who programmed the world's first application, and what was it?

Betty Snyder

Betty Snyder, 1944

Frances Elizabeth “Betty” Snyder Holberton programmed the world's first computer application, a sort routine, which she required be shipped with all UNIVAC I machines (the first commercial computer).