http://www.phillyvoice.com/70-years-ago-six-philly-women-eniac-digital-computer-programmers/
Without any real training, they learned what it took to make ENIAC work – and made it a humming success. Their contributions were overlooked for decades.
ENIAC, one of the world’s early digital computers (Colossus in the UK was earlier, for example), unveiled 70 years ago Sunday at the University of Pennsylvania, had six primary programmers: Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas and Ruth Lichterman. They were initially called “operators.”
In this video, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli talks about her time in the 1940’s learning about the ENIAC. She was one of a group of 6 women who were recruited to program this electronic computer.
Please note that the referenced article’s title incorrectly declares ENIAC to be the world’s first electronic computer. This is historically incorrect, with Colossus at Bletchley Park in the UK used for code breaking during WWII, and Konrad Zuse’s Z2 / Z3 in Germany.
The activities embedded in the programs make the subjects more engaging for the students as well as the teacher.
Trent Perry, Teacher