Alan Turing and Computer science
Computer plays very important role in today’s world, which is the result of many researchers’ efforts. The following is one of them.
I. The process:
1) Inventor: Turing, an eccentric young (1) .
2) Function:
A. Capable of scanning, or reading instructions encoded on a tape of theoretically (2) length.
B. responding to the sequential (3) and modifying its mechanical response if so ordered-the output of such a process,
Turing demonstrated, could replicate logical human thought.
3) The different names of the device:
A. The device in this (4) mind-experiment quickly acquired a name: the Turing machine.
B. Depending on the tape it scanned, the machine could (5) numbers or play chess or do anything else of a comparable nature.
Hence his device acquired a new and even grander name: the (6) Turing Machine.
II. Turing’s research paper relating to the device
1) Turing’s thoughts were recognized by the few readers capable of understanding them as theoretically interesting, even provocative.
2) But no one recognized that Turing’s machine provided a (7) for what would eventually become the electronic (8) computer.
III. Comment:
1) Everyone who taps at a keyboard, opening a spreadsheet or a word-processing (9) , is working on an incarnation of a Turing machine.
2) Turing remains a hero to proponents of (10) intelligence.