50 years ago today - Alan Turing died

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Alan Turing, the mathematician who (1) created the theoretical foundation of the digital computer, and (2) kicked Nazi ass by breaking their encryption codes, commited suicide June 7, 1954.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/07/manchester_honours_turing

Turing will be best remembered for his work on the German Enigma codes during his time at Bletchley Park, in addition to the thorny "Fish" U-boat cypher. Fish was eventually broken with the aid of Colossus in 1944. Turing was fascinated by artificial intelligence and the concept of the programmable single machine capable of handling any task, and by applying his intelligence to this concept he greatly contributed to the development of Bletchley's codebreaking machines and ultimately, the development of the modern computer concept.

(...)

In 1952, he was arrested and tried for a homosexual relationship with a young man from Manchester. Turing avoided prison by agreeing to have yearly oestrogen injections to control his libido - a savage punishment at a time that male homosexuality was illegal in Britain.

In fact, Turing's homosexuality had already cost him a secret post with with Bletchley's successor - GCHQ. In the chilly Cold War climate of 1948, his sexual orientation resulted in the loss of his security clearance. Left out in the cold, he bitterly resented his treatment at the hands of the security services, who continued to harrass him sporadically. In 1953, he was visited by police apparently looking for a Norwegian who had visited him - an incident widely believed to have been state-security inspired.

On 8 June, 1954, Turing's cleaner found him dead in his bed. He had died the day before from eating an apple laced with cyanide. Some have attempted to build a conspiracy around the tragedy, although the coroner's verdict of "suicide" seems plausible.

[sus]

1. NO MATH THREADS.

:)

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. he still lives

n/t

[Lindacooks]

3. This was a huge tragedy

This man literally saved the Allies and won the war by breaking the Enigma Code. And that he was persecuted for being gay is one of the biggest sins of the world.

[qwertyMike]

8. Turing -> the first computer

He essentially invented the first electronic computer.

He was shy, withdrawn, and being gay he suffered the ostracism of the day. Homosexuality was illegal in Britain till the late 1950's.
He committed suicide 50 years ago today. Tragedy.

http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/

[Fenris]

4. Man, I really like that Shroud of Turing.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. Amen. A great man.

[DrWeird]

6. God damn homophobes.

nt

[stickdog]

7. Welcome to the Machine. (nt)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Where have you been?

It's all right, we know where you've been.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Thank you for posting this...

What a tragic story...

May he rest in peace.

[Kellanved]

11. a mind without equal

Turing Machines are the first thing we teach our Freshmen.

[jpgray]

12. Sure, but can your freshmen pass the Turing test?

:silly:

[Kellanved]

14. ;-)

Now that's an idea for a paper: can a Freshman pass as intelligent?

The statistic is against them: we usually have failure quotes between 60 and 80%.

[ThoughtCriminal]

13. I can't help but wonder what else

he might had accomplished had he not been destoyed by bigots. What a terrible waste. Every free person in the world is in his debt.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. Enigmatic kick

:kick: