Alan Turing is one of the most famous names in the history of computers. His work during World War II and his ideas about machines helped create the modern computers we use today. What’s more, the fundamentals of artificial intelligence can also be traced back to some of his ideas. It’s safe to say that Turing changed the world, and his legacy remains stronger than ever today.
But who really was Turing anyway? What were these grand ideas and developments that he changed the world with? Today, we’re learning all about this unique figure, and how his legacy shaped modern computing.
Solving the Enigma and Starting Modern Computing
It all dates back to World War II when a British man named Alan Turing worked at a place called Bletchley Park. This was no ordinary park, though. It was the British government’s cryptological establishment, where agents of the Ultra intelligence project worked day and night to decode secret messages intercepted from the enemy.
Alan was one of these agents, helping the Allies break coded German messages that were made using a machine called the Enigma. Turing, alongside some other agents, built a machine called the Bombe. This helped to read secret codes faster. The Bombe saved many lives and ultimately helped win the war.
Turing also had a revolutionary idea in 1936, a simple machine now commonly known as the “Turing Machine”. It could solve almost any problem if it followed clear steps. This machine is thought to have been what led to modern-day computers, and to an extent, even AI.
Fun Fact:
Alan Turing apparently had an IQ of 185, which put him in the top 0.1% of the population.
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The Turing Test and the Start of Artificial Intelligence
In 1950, Alan Turing asked a very big question: “Can machines think?” He came up with a testing method to check whether the question could be true. The test is now called the Turing Test. According to the Turing Test, if a given person can’t tell if they are talking to a machine or another person, the machine can be considered intelligent.
Today, the Turing Test seems to be more important than ever. New AI systems are able to chat in ways that seem very human, fooling people all over the world in different ways. What’s more, AI-generated images are becoming harder to spot, and the untrained eye might soon find it impossible to tell the difference.
Alan TAlan Turing’s Work and Today’s Programming
Turing’s work has a huge effect on how we code and use computers today. His ideas helped create the programming languages we use today like Python or Java. Python is great for learning programming because it is simple and easy to read.
Turing’s story also teaches us something important: how we use technology matters. By using it for good purposes, Turing and his colleagues played a role in the outcome of WWII, saving potentially millions of lives and even life as we know it today.
Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Alan Turing
Alan Turing and his ideas have shaped the computers we use in our everyday lives today. He helped win the Second World War, created big ideas relating to how machines can think, and inspired modern programming.
Today, learning to code is one of the many ways we can follow in Alan’s footsteps, using the knowledge we have to help make our world (both online and offline) a better place. Whether it’s cybersecurity, testing, or just building a new digital project, coding offers countless ways to contribute to bettering our society.
Why not try it out and see for yourself? We offer online coding courses in many of the most popular languages, including Python, Django, and C#. Our interactive classes allow students to get a firm grip on the basics of coding, equipping them with valuable knowledge and skills. We welcome you to join our coding school to explore programming the way Alan Turing would have dreamed.
