Alan M Turing and colleagues work on the Ferranti Mark I Computer in the United Kingdom in 1951. Science & Society Picture Library via Getty Images
It amazes me that I have not heard the name Alan Turing before 2014-15.
Here is a man whose contribution to the world as we know it today is HUGE.
Here is a man whose contributions were kept secret by government at the highest levels for many years,
whose contribution to ending WWII ( by deciphering the famed Enigma Code ) is acknowledged to have shortened the war by about two years and therefore saved millions of lives.
It's not just that Turing's work was worthy of a Nobel Prize.
He went far beyond that. Turing was a true genius of the highest order.
Alan Turing should be known in the way that those other giants of science are known - Einstein, Newton and Darwin .
Instead he was prosecuted for being a homosexual and subjected to "chemical castration" in 1953.
A year later, at the age of 41, Alan Turing committed suicide.
This is a story that needed to be told.
The film The Imitation Game does just that - albeit with some glaring inaccuracies and embellishments.
Despite the embellishments it is a very enjoyable movie.
The sort that makes you go home and start an investigation all of your own about this genius of a man.
The sort that makes you shake your head in wonder about the social norms of the time and realise how times have changed in 50 or 60 years - my lifetime !!!
The name Alan Turing should be recognised in the way that the name Albert Einstein is recognised.
Let's hope, thanks to this film, that it is !
Shocking the way he was treated. When I discovered that a mate of mine in the Army was homosexual, he was paralysed with fear lest I let it slip. Far from letting it slip, my wife and I made a point of inviting him to dinner and making sure all the other guests were German civilians so we could tell him to bring his Russian boyfriend as well. Think about it, we were in the Army stationed in Germany during the cold war; he was homosexual and had a Russian boyfriend... it would have made the Profumo affair look like a Disney cartoon for kids!
ReplyDeleteHow things have changed in our lifetime Tom. Even with the precautions you took it would still have been fairly risky I would have thought.
DeleteIt was horrible how he was treated ~ but I believe that not much was made of that part of his story in the film. It is on my list to see. I teach my students about the Turing test when we learn about Artificial Intelligence in Year 12.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the wider public will know his name now, Carol and not just computer savvy people.
DeleteI'm hoping to see this movie. His life sounds tragic in spite of his brilliance. He was treated horribly.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing that struck me most was the fact that no one came forward to help him after he had done so much for his country winning the war Lorrie.
DeleteI'd like to see this film. I've known about A.T for a while (Dave had always been a computer geek so he's always known!) and I know the story is shocking - disgraceful and so tragic. I'm put off though as I don't like exaggeration and embellishments.
ReplyDeleteDon't be put off Louise, it's a very good film and just shows the values of the times. Most films change something - poetic licence sort of !
DeleteExaggeration and embellishments? As well as telling Turing's story the filmakers were also seeking to entertain. It is not a documentary. I'm glad that it grabbed you as it grabbed me Helen. Great film.
ReplyDeleteI guess you are right YP. It's the same when they change things from book to movie, it always bugs me.
DeleteI'd not heard of Turing either...not that I could recall, anyway...until I started hearing the movie etc., I've got to see this movie...all reviews and reports have been excellent.
ReplyDeleteHis name is one everyone should know as well as Einstein Lee
DeleteI mean the name Einstein ! !
DeleteI believe it is not altogether certain that he did commit suicide, it's more of an assumption he did. I enjoyed the movie and wonder how many people did outstanding things during the war but were sworn to secrecy. I think there would be a lot, so thanks to all you unrecognised heroes !
ReplyDeleteIt's time they were recognised .... 60 years have passed !
DeleteWe saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was brilliant!!! Happy New Year to you! Ros
ReplyDeleteThanks Ros. There's a few good movies coming up in the next few months. I'm looking forward to seeing them.
DeleteWe know all about Alan Turing here in Manchester UK. The major road that runs past Manchester City football stadium is the Alan Turing Way and we have a statue of the genius in one of the University green spaces.
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