Alan Mathison Turing

Alan Mathison Turing was undoubtedly one of the greatest pioneers of our computer world.

We can clearly label him the founder of what we know today as modern computer science, but

beyond that, he was also a great mathematician, a code-breaker, philosopher, and certainly a risk-

taker. His contributions to society not only influenced the development of today’s computers, but

also seriously impacted the outcome of a second world war.

Born on June 23, 1912 in London, England to Ethel and Julius Turing, Alan Turing showed

very early signs of having an extraordinary mind. "At a very early age, he is said to have taught

himself to read in only three weeks and his discovery of numbers brought about the distracting

habit of stopping at every street light in order to find its serial number." 1 In school he proved to act

just as any other great mind has had in the past. He could not adapt and conform to the way in

which things were organized and put forth for him. He wanted to only follow his own rules and

standards. He did, however excel in mathematics, but for that matter, it was only that subject which

was of primary concern