Lecture 12.3: The Amazing Alan Turing - Richard Buckland (extension lecture) UNSW 2008

We had a gap at the end of Lecture 12 so Richard gives an unplanned and impromptu talk about some of the contributions of the amazing thinker Alan Turing. So much to say, so little time, such fast talking.

We chat about 3 different major contributions he made to the world - his decryption work during WWII and the Engima Machine; his abstract model of a computer (the Turing Machine) and what things can be effectively "computed"; and finally, briefly only, his thoughts about what it is to be human and the difference between humans and computers - the Turing Test.

Alan Turing is a key figure in the development of computing, indeed if I had to pick just one thinker who was the most amazing he'd get my vote.

Richard promises to talk about the Turing Test in more depth in the next extension lecture.

Also comes up:
Epimenides paradox, non computable functions, the halting problem,
U-559, Colin Grazier G.C., Anthony Fasson, G.C.,Tommy Brown, Blade Runner,
CAPTCHAs.

Errata:
My memory was about as reliable as usual - I said Tommy stayed outside in a boat but i've since read that all three swam across and went into the U-559. Humbling bravery. I've also since realised that Colin Grazier was from Tamworth in the UK, not the Tamworth in Australia as I had always thought (why are so many English places named after Australian towns?) Finally, something which actually I did know but still managed to get wrong - the important material salvaged was not a cypher machine but quantities of data (ciphertext and the corresponding plaintext I think) which the codebreakers at Bletchley Park were able to use as "cribs" and were of vast help in cracking the submarine code used at that time.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Alan
• Turing
• Machine
• Test
• Engima
• Bletchley
• Park
• Babbage
• Computing
• History
• Computable
• Halting
• Problem
• CAPTCHA
• U-559
• Richard
• Buckland
• UNSW
• computer
• science
• comp1917
• university
• lecture

[Beefy2203]

Engrossed in the lecture but I'd like to point out that Colin Grazier (who got the enigma machine out of the German U Boat) was from Tamworth, Staffordshire ENGLAND! Not Tamworth Australia!

[UNSWelearning]

@Beefy2203 yes absolutely, you are quite right - the new youtube layout makes it harder to see the description attached to the video but we did print a correction there saying exactly that when we uploaded the vid back in 2008. The actions of those three men were truly humbling.

[flyzeggs]

Khwarizmi was Persian and born in Central Asia, not Indian or Arab.

[UNSWelearning]

thanks flyzeggs

[edehin]

That question about pedophile is so insulting and the "teacher" making fun of it is irresponsible. He should have answered to such a homophobic remark seriously. That homosexuality=pedophiles is the most ignorant thing ever and from a college student? But the teacher takes his time to clear that he is not a homosexual... i love him in a serious way. WHAT A BUNCH OF IGNORANT HOMOPHOBES

[UNSWelearning]

@edehin,

I think you might have misinterpreted the question asked by the student. I doubt it would even cross the mind of the questioner, or indeed anyone else in the room, to equate homosexuality and pedeophilia!

As discussed in previous comments below most likely the student was trying to make sense of someone being jailed for being homosexual - these days that outcome seems utterly bizzare to university students in inner-city Sydney. Perhaps he was thinking of the case of Oscar Wilde?

[UNSWelearning]

Absolutely!

But that doesn't pardon the way he was treated.

[uthman72]

This is just a good example of the poor education standards in America. If such are the teachers, may God have mercy of the students!

[frackcha]

@uthman72 I bet your a fun person to stand beside at a party... ;-)

[jrwkc]

@uthman72 god damn shut up uthman. He knows everything about computer science and mathematics. God forbid he forget a few trivial facts about some fucking dudes exact name or his lineage. I bet this lecturer can own you in all things math and science.

[uthman72]

This Lecturer does not seem to know the basic historical facts in Mathematics...It is depressing listening to this...."Alkjazori"? Oh dear! The correct name is Al-Khawarizmi (c. 780-850) , "Algorithm", who is known to every student of Maths. He is Persian and not Pakistani! Pakistan as a nation had not even been created yet (created recently in the 20th century)! Alan Turing who's known to every student of Computers and Maths was a scholar at University of Cambridge, UK!

[rfarrell1976]

Wow! Great lecture.

[SeedsofJoy]

I love this guy!

[DkDaNnyBol]

Giled = jailed in britain lol