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'''Alan Turing''' (1912 - 1954) was a British mathematician who contributed to modern [[computer]] science and [[cryptography]].<ref>Http://www.turing.org.uk/bio</ref>

'''Alan Turing''' (1912 - 1954) was a British mathematician who contributed to modern [[computer]] science and [[cryptography]].<ref>Http://www.turing.org.uk/bio</ref>

In the 1930s Turing proposed the concept of a "[[turning machine|Universal Turing Machine]]".  Turing had, first, proposed that the operations needed to calculate any formula could be broken down into a base set of instructions (or primitive recursive functions) that could in principle be followed by a machine: the "Turing Machine".  Once fully formalized the calculations needed to derive the instructions themselves were capable of being run by a Turing Machine.  The looped [[logic]] allowed the conception of a Turing Machine that could create its own instruction and, in principle, run a huge variety of calculations. Turing then used the concept of Universal Turing Machine to prove the undecidability of the [[halting problem]].   

In the 1930s Turing proposed the concept of a "[[turning machine|Universal Turing Machine]]".  Turing had, first, proposed that the operations needed to calculate any formula could be broken down into a base set of instructions (or primitive [[Recursion|recursive functions]]) that could in principle be followed by a machine: the "Turing Machine".  Once fully formalized the calculations needed to derive the instructions themselves were capable of being run by a Turing Machine.  The looped [[logic]] allowed the conception of a Turing Machine that could create its own instruction and, in principle, run a huge variety of calculations. Turing then used the concept of Universal Turing Machine to prove the undecidability of the [[halting problem]].   

During [[World War II]] Turing was assigned to the codebreaking unit at Bletchley Park, where he worked on the decoding of the German's [[Enigma machine]]. Turing and his colleagues played a significant role in the Allied victory in WW2, allowing Allied forces access to German communication networks throughout much of the war.  

During [[World War II]] Turing was assigned to the codebreaking unit at Bletchley Park, where he worked on the decoding of the German's [[Enigma machine]]. Turing and his colleagues played a significant role in the Allied victory in WW2, allowing Allied forces access to German communication networks throughout much of the war.