Transcript COMM 3353 Information, Internet, and the World Wide Web

COMM 3353:
Communication
Web
Technologies I
M,W,F 1:00PM to 2:00PM
239 COM
Shawn W. McCombs
www.class.uh.edu/comm/classes/comm3353/ppt/touring.html
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”
 The First computers
 Modern computers
 The WIntel Box
 The Mac
 Where did it all come from?
 Turing Machine
 Alan Turing
 The Father of Computer Science
 British Intelligence
 Created First electronic “Computer”
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 Alan Turing
 Analysis of the man
 Not a man of material.
 Used a piece of rope as a belt.
 Placed little importance upon wealth or social class.
 Although, by birthright, was a member of the upper class.
 He lived for scientific study and the search for truths.
 From early youth, had a great understanding for science.
 But . . Lethargic and lacked motivation because elementary
education (although considered exceptional by most) was largely
unchallenging to Turing.
 Fixed everything
 Stopwatch and jogging
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Driving Force
 1930: Became obsessed with Death of childhood friend
Christopher Morcum
 Determined to be the underlying motivation for all his future study.
 1933: studied mathematical based reasoning, general analysis,
quantum physics, logic (Cambridge).
 1935: hypothesized about a method or process by which all
mathematical questions could be decided or solved
 Invented the “Definite Method”
 Methodical Process focusing on the idea of something done
mechanically based on a theoretical machine able to perform
certain precisely defined operations on paper tape.
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 Developed this hypothesis in response to Hilbert’s
Idea of Decidability. (one method for all ?’s)
 Proved Hilbert wrong and created his own “Definite
Method” Definition
 1936 Turing’s discovery stolen by would-be fame
seeker Alonzo Church
 Church’s Theory, however, didn’t include
procedural operations in the physical world (relied
too heavily on math)
 In other words, empirically-supported data
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Turing Machine
 Turing then worked in isolation to enhance
he and Church’s earlier discoveries.
 Result: Turing made a bridge between the
logical and physical worlds, thought and action,
which crossed conventional boundaries.
 His work introduced concept of Turing
Machine Idea
 Infinite number of “Turing Machines” each
based on its own algorithm or instructions
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Turing Machine /Cont./
 The Universal Turing Machine embodies
essential principals of the computer.
 Single machine which can be turned to any well
defined task by being supplied with the
appropriate program or set of instructions
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Turing Machine /Cont./
 Computers in the modern sense did not exist in
1936.
 Modern being the kinds of electronic technology we see
today.
 Invented Morphogenesis
 Created first “Electronic Computer” or Turing
Machine to cipher or decode messages (Bombe).
 True to the “Universal” Turing Machine Concept
 Machine would decode German war messages
(Enigma).
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Turing Machine /Cont./
 Hired by British Intelligence
 Would eventually lead to mysterious demise
 Wartime Encryption Center
 Bombe vs.. German Enigma
 Enigma Cipher Machine its was the original name
 The return to Manchester University
 Trouble on the home front
 Homosexual relationship
 Jail vs.. estrogen shots
Origins of Computing:
The “Turing Box”/Cont./
 The Turing Machine /Cont./
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Suffered a great deal of ridicule from peers
Intense period of depression followed
Became an embarrassment to the British Gvt.
1954: died of cyanide poisoning
 Apple (half eaten beside his bed)
 Suicide?
 Mysterious
Alan Turing: Creator of the
Computer
 Alan Turing
 Father of Computer
Science
 Developed the Definite
Method principle
 Major contributor in WW2
Intelligence
 Persecuted for his
Sexuality
 Killed by his Government
Alan Turing: Creator of the
Computer
 A Genius
 Major Contributor to
modern science.
…And all because of
a fascination with
death and mind over
matter.
Alan Turing:
Creator of the
Computer
• End of Turing
Presentation