Audrey Bates (programmer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Bates
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|---|---|
| Born |
Margery Audrey Bates
1928 |
| Died | 2014 (aged 85–86) |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
Margery Audrey Bates (1928-2014) was a pioneering computer programmer. She was born in Britain and later became an American citizen. In 1948, she wrote one of the very first computer programs. This program was designed to solve complex math problems using something called "lambda calculus." She ran it on an early computer called the Manchester Mark I.
Early Career and Studies
Audrey Bates finished her math degree at the University of Manchester in 1949. She earned top grades, which is called a "First." After graduating, she became a research student. Her mentor was Alan Turing, a very famous computer scientist. She even shared an office with him and another programmer, Cicely Popplewell.
In 1950, Audrey Bates completed her master's thesis. It was titled "The mechanical solution of a problem in Church's Lambda calculus." This important work showed how to use the basic Manchester Mark I computer. She used it to perform advanced logical reasoning. This was a huge step for early computing.
Working with Computers
The Manchester Mark I computer was later sold by a company called Ferranti. Audrey Bates then moved to work for Ferranti as a programmer. While there, she helped write parts of a popular book. The book was called Faster Than Thought. It was written by Vivian Bowden. The book introduced people to electronic computing.
In 1952, Bates started working on another computer. This was the FERUT, a Ferranti Mark I computer. It was located at the University of Toronto in Canada. In 1955, a picture showed Bates supervising the FERUT. At that time, the FERUT made history. It was the first computer to be accessed remotely. This means someone used it from a different location.
Later in 1979, Audrey Bates worked as a "futurist." This means she studied and predicted future trends. She worked at a US military research center.
Personal Life
Audrey Bates was married two times. She also had four children. Her first husband, Ken Wallis, was also a programmer at Ferranti. Her second husband was Leigh Clayton. She published her later work using the name Clayton.
