1936Reputable sourceWell documented
Turing and the Birth of Computation
On the timeline · around 1936 · The Modern Age
What happened
In 1936 the English mathematician Alan Turing, tackling a deep problem in logic, devised an abstract 'machine' that could carry out any computation by following simple rules — the Turing machine. In doing so he defined what it means for something to be computable and laid the theoretical foundation of the computer.
Why it matters
Turing's work turned mathematics into the blueprint for the digital age. The Turing machine remains the foundation of computer science, and Turing is regarded as the father of theoretical computing and artificial intelligence.
Sources
Related timelines
- Artificial Intelligence → — The theoretical foundation of computing and AI