The father of computer science
By James Dacey
His pioneering work in the 1940s is arguably the reason you are reading from this screen.
His code-breaking skills also helped to defeat the fascist onslaught during the Second World War.
His eponymous test to gauge the “intelligence” of a machine is taken as an essential concept in the field of artificial intelligence.
But rather than enjoy the fruits of his work in the latter half of the 20th century, Alan Turing tragically died in 1954 aged just 41, after biting into an apple laced with cyanide. Though there is still some controversy surrounding his death, the general consensus is that Turing killed himself after being given the choice of prison or chemical castration on account of his homosexuality.
Now, over fifty years later, a computer scientist is calling for the British government to finally apologize for the manner in which Turing was treated.
John Graham-Cumming has created an on-line petition, which includes the statement:
The British Government should apologize to Alan Turing for his treatment and recognize that his work created much of the world we live in and saved us from Nazi Germany. And an apology would recognize the tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man’s life and career
At the time of writing, more than 26 000 people have added their name to the petition.
