MHB Remembering Alan Turing: A Pioneering Computer Scientist

AI Thread Summary
Alan Turing is celebrated as a pioneering computer scientist, notably for his contributions to the development of the first generation of computers in the post-war era. The discussion critiques the article for downplaying Turing's significant role in computer science, emphasizing his expertise in designing, building, and programming early computers. Turing's work extended beyond hardware; he also conceptualized theoretical frameworks, such as his chess program, demonstrating that computer science can be explored without physical computers. His legacy remains influential in both theoretical and practical aspects of computing. Overall, Turing's multifaceted contributions solidify his status as a foundational figure in the field.
Plato2
Messages
194
Reaction score
0
http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2012/06/28/remembering-alan-turing/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en.
 
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
That article does rather down-grade AMT's contribution to computer science, designing, building and programming the first generation of computers was one of his major activities in the post-war period.

Just to prove a slightly different point; that you can do computer science without a computer, see this >>this<< on Turings Chess program.

CB
 
Last edited:

Thread 'Trigonometry problem of interest'

Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
View full post »

Thread 'Six Pencil Puzzle'

Is it possible to arrange six pencils such that each one touches the other five? If so, how? This is an adaption of a Martin Gardner puzzle only I changed it from cigarettes to pencils and left out the clues because PF folks don’t need clues. From the book “My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles”. Dover, 1994.
View full post »

Similar threads

Python Explore Alan Turing's Computable Numbers & Generate Pi with Python
Replies
1
Views
1K
Is Alan Turing given too much credit when it comes to computers?
Replies
29
Views
5K
Turing Prize goes to Pixar Computer Graphics Pioneers
Replies
1
Views
1K
Symbol in Alan Turing's On Computable Numbers
Replies
2
Views
2K
Alan Turing and his homosexuality
Replies
27
Views
7K
Water-based Computers: An Innovative Invention
Replies
2
Views
2K
Which path should I choose: Mathematician or Theoretical Computer Scientist?
Replies
1
Views
3K
Requesting suggestions for languages, libraries, and architectures for parallel (and sometimes non parallel) numerical and scientific computations
Replies
8
Views
4K
TabletPCs for Science and Science Teaching [blog entry from 2006]
Replies
3
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top