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"Bias & Bigotry" |
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Alan Turing, born on June 23, 1912, in Maida Vale, London, was the second child of Julius Mathison Turing and Ethel Sara Turing. The Turings were part of the British colonial establishment in India, but they returned to Britain for the births of their children, ensuring they would receive a British education. Alan grew up in a time of global transition, showing early signs of brilliance at Sherborne School and later at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was elected a fellow at the age of 22. The social environment during Turing’s lifetime was tumultuous, marked by the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, and the onset of World War II. The backdrop of war, combined with pervasive conservatism in British society, particularly regarding sexuality, presented significant challenges. Turing, who was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK, faced profound personal adversities. His academic pursuits in mathematics and logic, however, offered him a slight reprieve, allowing him to focus on developing what would eventually become the foundation for theoretical computer science. Despite these societal challenges, Alan Turing’s achievements were monumental. During World War II, he worked at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, Britain's codebreaking centre. Here, Turing was instrumental in developing the Bombe machine, which was capable of decrypting German Enigma-encrypted messages. This work is estimated to have shortened the war in Europe by as many as two to four years, saving millions of lives. Post-war, he continued to contribute to the development of computers and articulated concepts that prefigured modern notions of algorithmic computing and artificial intelligence. Turing’s legacy is a testament to the profound impact one individual can have on the world, even when operating under severe personal and societal constraints. Reference: Wikipedia.org |
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