The enigma of alan turing alan turingan english mathematician, logician, and cryptanalystwas a computer pioneer. In 1950, alan turing created a chess computer program that. It stars benedict cumberbatch as british cryptanalyst alan turing, who decrypted german intelligence messages for the british government during the second world war. Its a contentious question, says andrew hodges, author of the acclaimed biography alan turing. The enigma has sold a respectable 68,000 copies around the world. Turings achievements drew inspiration for the 2014 film the imitation game, which featured actor benedict cumberbatch as. Nearly 60 years ago, a new player entered the gameone powered not by human intelligence and dedication, but by lines of code on paper, written by computer scientist alan turing. Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.
In 1996 it appeared as a television film and video, also featuring derek jacobi. Though he is regarded today as one the most innovative thinkers of the 20th century, at his death many of his wartime accomplishments were classified. From his theoretical turing machine and work on the bombe to break nazi enigma codes during world war ii, to his contributions in the field of artificial intelligence before it was even called. Alan turing was one of the most influential british figures of the 20th century.
It has been frequently performed by professional and amateur companies across the world since then. Whats missing from the imitation game the new yorker. The enigma of intelligence counterpoint new edition by andrew hodges isbn. The author is obviously an expert on turings life and has his own website about bletchley, turing, historical documents and so on. Turing returned to bletchley in march 1943, where he continued his work in cryptanalysis. Real imitation game codebreaker olive bailey describes alan turing duration. Alan turing acknowledges that the definition of the word thinking can be used to argue both for and against the thinking of machines, and really is up to interpretation. In 1936, he invented the computer as part of his attempt to solve a fiendish puzzle known as the entscheidungsproblem. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decades.
A team of scientists, mathematicians and cryptographers are credited with cracking the enigma code. Alan turing predicts machine learning and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs gil press senior contributor opinions expressed by forbes contributors are their own. The enigma of alan turing central intelligence agency. Alan turing 191254 was a british mathematician who made history.
Keira knightley, matthew goode, rory kinnear, charles dance, and mark strong also star. Turings legacy contributes to ever greater acceptance of sexual differences. Alan mathison turing obe frs was an english mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist. What the imitation game didnt tell you about turings greatest. How alan turing cracked the enigma code imperial war museums. The enigma of intelligence securely online today at a great price. His breaking of the german uboat enigma cipher in world war ii ensured. One of the few who knew that bletchley had cracked enigma was ian fleming working in naval intelligence but the americans. Based extremely loosely on andrew hodgess excellent biography alan turing. The enigma of intelligence paperback january 28, 1985 by andrew hodges author. The enigma 1983 is a biography of the british mathematician. His breaking of the german uboat enigma cipher in world war ii ensured alliedamerican control of the atlantic. A nazi enigma encryption machine is displayed at the world war ii. In the process of turning alan turings life into a film, the demands of.
Often remembered for his contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and modern computer science before either even existed, turing is probably best known for what is now dubbed the turing test. Turing travelled to the united states in december 1942, to advise us military intelligence in the use of bombe machines and to share his knowledge of enigma. The enigma, from 1983, the film imagines turing as an obtuse savant. The enigma of intelligence first edition by andrew hodges isbn. Alan turings 9 arguments for the intelligence of machines. Basically, alan turing and his team at bletchley not only cracked the german messages, but laid down the work for the invention of the computer. Alan turings impact on computer science at princeton. What the imitation game didnt tell you about turings. Often remembered for his contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and modern computer science before either even existed, turing is. But turings vision went far beyond the desperate wartime struggle.
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