[MikeSz]

That machine was called colossus. And it was a computer. There is much debate on this issue and its unclear as to what people want to term as a computer, i.e. independent operation, the ability to run software, re-programming etc. The first widely accepted instance of a computer which can run software and be a "true" computer in its sense was the "Baby" which was assembled in Manchester for the University and ran its first "Program" in 1948.

Of course there have been machines to carry out tasks since long before that, but the difference here was that Baby could accept different programs. It wasnt designed to do just one thing and could be hailed as the start of computers and computer programming as we know it.