Alan Mathison Turing, born on June 23, 1912, in Maida Vale, London, was a visionary mathematician and computer scientist. Due to his groundbreaking contributions laid the foundation of the modern computer field, later generations call him ‘the father of computer science’.
In an era, devoid of modern computer technology, Turing ingeniously employed a machine to emulate human mathematical computations conducted through manual means, and the Turing machine stands today as the archetype of contemporary computers. During the mid-19th century, the notion that machines could possess the capability to think gained significant prominence following the publication of Alan Turing's work, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence." This concept, which posited that machines could exhibit thought, laid the groundwork for the field of machine intelligence and asserted that machines could possess a form of consciousness (Nath, 2020). [1] However, most scientists have proven that it is wrong for machines to have consciousness. Nevertheless, the rudimentary machines devised by Turing and the theoretical principles that he advanced continue to underpin the evolution of contemporary computer systems.
Marcus (2016) indicates that Alan Turing's celebrated examination of intelligence, popularly referred to as the Turing test, represents an unmistakable milestone in the realm of artificial intelligence. Beyond the confines of this field, the test, centered on machines' capacity to convincingly mimic human behavior, is virtually synonymous with the pursuit of achieving machine intelligence. Within the field itself, the test enjoys broad acknowledgment as a trailblazing landmark.[2] Nonetheless, while the Turing test retains its status as a seminal benchmark within the domain of artificial intelligence, it has, of late, assumed a diverting role in contemporary research endeavors.
Unfortunately, despite Alan Turing created invaluable contributions to the field of computing science. He was apprehended and found guilty of engaging in acts of homosexuality, a practice that was unlawful in the United Kingdom at that time.
In conclusion, the influence of Alan Turing on the realm of computer science is immeasurable. His contributions to concepts such as computability, the Turing machine, and codebreaking have evolved into foundational pillars of contemporary computer science, artificial intelligence, and cryptography. His conceptualization of universal computation served as the underpinning for the advancement of digital computers and the programming languages that have become indispensable components of our modern technological landscape.