The Rise Of Australasia-Chapter 1299 - 949 Alan Mathison Turing

Chapter 1299: Chapter 949: Alan Mathison Turing

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Chapter 1299 -949: Alan Mathison Turing

The conference in London was discussing how to divide up the world’s interests, while in Australasia, Arthur was also plotting how to deploy a major future technology: the development of computer science.

Speaking of computer science, one cannot help but mention the famous British mathematician and logician, known as the father of computer science, the father of artificial intelligence, and the founder of computer logic, Alan Mathison Turing.

Regarding the development of computer science, there is actually a little-known secret history.

Although the more famous first computer was manufactured by the United States Military, Britain’s electronic computer “Colossus,” developed for the decryption of secret communications, was created two years earlier than the so-called first computer of the United States.

However, the British have always remained silent about the honor of developing the first computer, not only making no declaration claiming the honor for Britain but also seldom mentioning Turing, who developed the first computer.

Why is this so?

The root of it all was actually due to Turing’s sexual orientation, which was a century ahead of its time—homosexuality, increasingly accepted in the 21st century but a religious taboo in the 20th century.

In terms of Turing’s contributions to the computer industry, he was indeed a true pioneer of computer technology and is universally recognized as the father of computer science and artificial intelligence.

But because his sexual orientation was not accepted, after developing the world’s first computer, he was persecuted by the British Government at the time and ultimately driven to suicide.

Although in the later 21st century, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain announced Turing’s pardon, by then Turing had been dead for nearly sixty years, and the so-called pardon was merely a compromise by the British Government for public sentiment.

Considering Turing’s importance to the development of computer science, Arthur felt it necessary to prevent Turing from meeting his historic fate and instead make him the revered father of computer science, not someone people shunned as a deviant.

Moreover, considering Turing’s immense contributions to the development of computer science, even if he were a deviant, he would still be worth courting by Australasia.

The good news was, at that time, Turing was in Australasia and pursuing his doctoral degree at Australasia National University.

This made Arthur grateful that he had eliminated the United States earlier, otherwise, with its status as the leading industrial and economic power, the United States would have been more attractive than Australasia.

Historically, Turing was pursuing his doctoral degree at Princeton University in the United States, and after obtaining his Ph.D., he returned to Britain to work in the communications department.

Now that he was in Australasia, Arthur had no intention of letting Turing go back. After all, with Turing, Australasia could not only take a step ahead of the world in computer technology development but also achieve significant accomplishments in computer logic.

It is well-known that the Turing machine was created by Turing at Princeton University. Although the Turing machine had not yet been invented, Turing had the capability to do so.

Although Turing had already received numerous honors, including being a fellow of King’s College at Cambridge University, Arthur was still confident in keeping Turing in Australasia.

In addition to placing greater emphasis on Turing, the excessive bias of the British Government towards Turing’s sexual orientation was another reason Arthur believed Turing would stay in Australasia.

Though this aspect was also not accepted in Australasia, with Arthur’s protection, Turing would not face the tragic end he did in history.

In mid-November 1937, Arthur instructed Australasia National University to establish a computing laboratory, with the purpose of decrypting enemy secret communications.

Arthur ordered the National University to internally screen talent to join the computing laboratory and planned to meet them personally after the selections for the computing lab were made.

This command was highly regarded by the National University, and the current University Principal, Antema, tirelessly began the selection of talents within the university, quickly determining the first group to join the computing laboratory, including Turing among them.

Receiving the invitation to join the National University’s computing laboratory was quite a surprise to Turing. However, it did not conflict with his studies, and the specific work of the computing laboratory was also of interest to him, thus Turing did not refuse.

On November 20, 1937, Arthur met with the first group of candidates for the computing laboratory.

All these candidates were selected from the National University and were the top talents in related areas of the mathematics departments. Apart from a few young doctoral students like Turing, the majority were professors and experts from the mathematics department of the National University.

The group, including Turing, was thrilled to be received by Arthur. Given his current status, Arthur’s position was no less significant than that of Edward VI, King of the United Kingdom.

Even considering the recognition by the European nobility, Arthur’s reputation among the European nobility was higher than that of Edward VI at the time.

Additionally, due to Arthur’s higher seniority and longer rule, Turing felt even more nervous meeting Arthur than he would have felt meeting the King of the United Kingdom.

And for all native Larasians, being received by Arthur was as prestigious, if not more so, than achieving top awards in their fields of research.

Larasian currently had countless talents in the scientific community, with thousands of people joining the Royal Science Academy.