Dr. Kenneth Iverson, who died October 19, 2004, at the age of 83, was the creator of APL (A Programming Language) and, more recently, of J (J Language). He was a gifted mathematician, educator, and writer. Born December 17, 1920, in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, he received a BA in mathematics and physics from Queen's University in Ontario, and an MA in mathematics and PhD in applied mathematics from Harvard University.
As an assistant professor at Harvard, Iverson developed a mathematical notation for manipulating arrays that he taught to his students. In 1962 at IBM, he worked with Adin Falkoff to create the language APL based on that notation. He was named an IBM Fellow in 1970. He received the AFIPS Harry Goode Award in 1975, ACM Turing Award in 1979, IEEE Computer Pioneer Award in 1982, and the National Medal of Technology in 1991.
The creator of APL (A Programming Language) and J (J Language) will be remembered and celebrated in a series of talks presented by those
who knew him well.
Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View,
CA,
94043
