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Alan Turing. Presented By: Tyler Romero CSCE 221-200 Spring 2014. Background. Born June 23, 1912 in London Studied Mathematics at Cambridge University (1931-34) Obtained Ph.D from Princeton University (1938). Computability. Turing Machine A hypothetical, formal computing device
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Alan Turing Presented By: Tyler Romero CSCE 221-200 Spring 2014
Background • Born June 23, 1912 in London • Studied Mathematics at Cambridge University (1931-34) • Obtained Ph.D from Princeton University (1938)
Computability • Turing Machine • A hypothetical, formal computing device • Manipulates symbols (EX: 0s and 1s) on a “tape” • Could perform any math computation expressed as an algorithm • Used Turing Machines to show that not all math problems are solvable by computers
World War 2 and Cryptography • The English Secret Service Recruited Turing (1939) • Bletchley Park • Deciphering the “Enigma”, a German encoding machine • Developed the Bombe (1940) • A device that used crib based decryption • A “Crib” is a known section of plaintext • Used statistical techniques to optimize the code breaking process • His work in cryptography remained secret for many years
Secure Speech Device • Worked with Bell Labs to develop SIGSALY (1942) • A secure speech device that was used late in WW2 • Developed “Delilah” (1944) • A machine that could encrypt and decrypt electronic voice communications • Was not used in war
Turing Test • A fundamental idea in the field of Artificial Intelligence • Introduced in the paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (1950) • “Imitation Game” • Can a machine imitate a human so well that an interrogator does not have good chance of being able to tell them apart • Closely related to the question, “Can Machines Think?” • The correct interpretation of the Turing Test is debated
Death and Recognition • Prosecuted for and convicted of homosexuality in 1952 • Was still criminalized in the UK • Died of cyanide poisoning in 1954 • Speculated that he committed suicide • A poisoned apple was used to administer the cyanide • Posthumously pardoned on Dec 24, 2013 • In 1966, the Turing Award was established in his honor • Given by the Association for Computing Machinery • Awarded for lasting technical contributions to the field of computing • The “Nobel Price of Computing” • Accompanied by a prize of $250,000 • Awarded the OBE by King George VI for wartime services
Works Cited • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/alan_turing • http://www.zentralblatt-math.org/year-of-mathematics/yom-12.pdf • http://www.turing.org.uk/ • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/609739/Alan-Turing • http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/turing/