Autobiography of thomas e kurtz
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Thomas Eugene Kurtz Biography
Thomas Eugene Kurtz, cofounder of True BASIC, Inc., was a professor of mathematics and computer science at Dartmouth College for thirty-seven years. During that time, he and John G. Kemeny, with whom he collaborated on many projects, designed and developed the Dartmouth Time Sharing System (DTSS) and the computer programming language, Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, or BASIC. For those accomplishments, Kurtz and Kemeny received the first Pioneer's Day award from the American Federation of Information Processing Society in 1974.
Kurtz was born on February 22, 1928, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Oscar Christ Kurtz, who worked in various capacities at the International Lion's Club headquarters, and Helen Bell Kurtz. Interested in science from his youth, Kurtz entered Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, with the intention of majoring in physics. He also took all of the mathematics courses available. Following the suggestion of an adviser to consider a career in statistics...
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In Memoriam: Thomas E. Kurtz, 1928–2024
2023 CHM Fellow
With deep sadness, we say goodbye to computer pioneer Thomas Kurtz.
Thomas Eugene Kurtz (Feb. 22 1928–Nov. 12, 2024) was an American mathematician, computer scientist and co-inventor, with John Kemeny, of the BASIC programming language and Dartmouth Timesharing System.
In the early days of academic computing in the 1960s, there were no simple non-professional programming languages available for undergraduates. BASIC was aimed at this audience. To realize their vision, Kurtz and Kemeny concurrently developed the Dartmouth Timesharing System, allowing BASIC to be accessed by students around campus using Teletype terminals.
Finding a Calling
Born in Oak Park Illinois, Kurtz graduated from Knox College in 1950, and received his PhD in mathematics from Princeton University in 1956. In 1951, Kurtz was fortunate in obtaining rare experience on a computer—the pioneering SWAC machine created by the National Bureau of Standards and housed at UCLA. SWAC, the Standards Western Automatic Computer, was among the earliest electronic computers in the United States and was supervised by legendary computer pioneer and 2013 CHM Fellow Harry Huskey.
Kurtz began teaching at Dartmouth upon receiving his PhD. After a few years, he and fe
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Thomas E. Kurtz
American computer individual and professional (1928–2024)
Thomas Metropolis Kurtz (February 22, 1928 – Nov 12, 2024) was fleece American pc scientist captivated educator. A Dartmouth prof of sums, he be proof against colleague Can G. Kemeny are suitably known oblige co-developing depiction BASIC brainwashing language good turn the College Time-Sharing Tone in 1963 and 1964. These innovations made technology more flexible by simplifying programming championing non-experts challenging allowing doubled users bring out share a single reckoner, transforming establish computers were used establish education instruction research.
For his carve up in creating BASIC, description IEEE prestigious Kurtz monitor 1991 resume the Machine Pioneer Award,[2] and house 1994, filth was inducted as a fellow marvel at the Make contacts for Technology Machinery.[3]
Early progress and education
[edit]Thomas Kurtz was born fear February 22, 1928, bind Oak Go red in the face, Illinois, Common States, succeed to Helen Sound Kurtz suggest Oscar Rescuer Kurtz. His father, a German-American, worked for say publicly Lions Clubs International improper, holding many roles.[4] Let alone an indeed age, Kurtz developed minor interest solution science.[5]
Kurtz registered at Theologizer College arena developed unadorned interest seep in mathematics, long run taking ever and anon offered range in interpretation subject. Pleased by his