THE LAST WORD –DID YOU KNOW?

THE LAST WORD –DID YOU KNOW?

WHEN INSPIRATION SAVED THE DAY

In the hallowed halls of academia, minds wrestle with the abstract and the profound. Sometimes, a moment of inspiration can lead to a profound shift in how we view the world. In 1936, a young mathematician, Alan Turing, published a paper that changed everything.

On 27 May 1936, Turing submitted his piece to the London Mathematical Society. 'On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem'. His paper came out in the Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society in two parts, in 1936 and 1937. It tackled an esoteric problem: the Entscheidungsproblem, or "decision problem." This problem, posed by the renowned mathematician David Hilbert, sought a definitive method to determine the truth or falsity of any mathematical statement within a formal system. Turing's genius lay in his novel approach to this problem. He envisioned a hypothetical machine capable of performing any computation. The computation had to be capable of being described by a set of instructions. This hypothetical machine has since become known as the Turing machine. Thus the abstract begot further inspiration and practical inventions. The Turing machine became the foundation of modern computer science. It was a blueprint for the digital engines that now permeate our lives.

Turing's paper was not merely a theoretical exercise. It also had profound implications for the foundations of mathematics. He demonstrated that there are problems that no algorithmic process can solve. Problems that no computer, no matter how powerful, can provide a definitive answer. This result became known as the undecidability of

the halting problem. It shattered hopes of finding a universal method to solve all mathematical problems. A mix of admiration and scepticism greeted the publication of Turing's paper. Some mathematicians recognized its brilliance and far-reaching consequences. Others struggled to grasp its abstract concepts. Turing's ideas were ahead of their time. With them, a glimpse into the future and the importance of computing and computers.

Turing's work on computability laid the groundwork for the development of electronic computers. His abstract machine, once a figment of his imagination, became a reality. Necessity is the mother of invention. Few times have seen such a need for invention as Britain during the Second World War. Wartime necessity would produce an incredible brood of innovations.

At Bletchley Park, Britain's codebreakers worked to decipher German military codes. Turing and his colleagues worked on cracking the Wehrmacht's Enigma Code. The Enigma Code was itself an inspired invention - what seemed like an unbreakable cipher.

The Enigma machine was a complex electromechanical device designed to encrypt messages. It consisted of a keyboard, a set of rotating rotors, and a plugboard. Each key press would turn rotors. This created a unique electrical pathway scrambling the letter into a different one. The settings of the rotors and the plugboard determined the encryption key. The encryption key changed daily, making the code very difficult to break.

Turing's key contribution was the design and development of the Bombe. This was an electromechanical device that systematically tested different Enigma settings to find the correct one. The Bombe built on a Polish design, enhanced by Turing and his colleagues. With it, the Allies gained

invaluable intelligence on German military operations. Some have credited it with shaving years from the duration of the conflict.

The Bombe's success was a testament to Turing's ability to turn inspiration into practical applications. He applied complex theoretical concepts to almost impossible real-world problems. His deep understanding of mathematics and logic combined with engineering skills to create a machine that could outsmart the Enigma. The Bombe was a technological marvel of its time, a precursor to the modern computer.

After his wartime triumphs, Turing's life took a tragic turn. In 1952, he faced prosecution for homosexual acts, which were then illegal in Britain. Convicted of "gross indecency", he had to choose between imprisonment and chemical castration. He chose the latter, suffering hormone therapy with devastating physical and psychological effects. Two years later, in 1954, Turing died from self-inflicted cyanide poisoning.

In 2009, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, issued an official government apology. In 2013, Turing received a posthumous royal pardon. His portrait now graces the £50 note. This acknowledges his importance and confronts his post-war treatment. But his suffering and early death can not be undone.

Today, Turing's legacy lives on in every computer, smartphone, and digital device. His ideas transformed our world, enabling us to communicate, create, and explore in ways that were once unimaginable.

This article was provided courtesy of Ian ChapmanCurry, Legal Director in the pensions team at Gowling WLG.and host of the Almost History podcast. www.almosthistorypodcast.com