Alan Turing and Colossus

Today , I shall dedicate this article to the father of Computer Science , Alan Turing . Let us begin on a funny note. As a legend goes , it is said that Alan Turing entered into the field , after having suffered a loss in his love life.

One of the most crucial achievements of Sir.Alan Turing , was the deciphering of the Enigma code , of the Germans , which helped , in saving millions of innocent lives , during the  second world war.

Let us  learn about the ENIGMA , before proceeding to the  " Colossus " , which broke the ultimate code .


Quoted : 
"During the 1920s, the Germans created the "Enigma code" machine, which led them to believe that their coded messages concerning military and other top secret operations were beyond being decoded. The machine, which resembled a typewriter, was capable of doing millions of calculations in milliseconds, and the secret codes that controlled them were regularly changed everyday."

Ref for image : 1)http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2009/05/enigma-8-rotors-1000pxjpg1.jpeg

                             2) http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/07/19/enigma-machine-ebay_48.jpg

Let us now proceed , to the Colossus :


Quoted : 
"Turing undertook the construction work of a special-purpose electronic machine all the way. In January 1943, he headed up a team of scientists whose specific goal was to try to break Enigma code. To do so, the team developed a computer – called the "Colossus" comprising 1,500 vacuum tubes."


Some pictures :

Ref for images : 1)http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/FacultyPages/PamMack/lec122/coloss.jpg
                              2) http://www.costablancahotmale.com/images/stories/ColossusX.jpg



Reference :  Colossus Computer and Alan Turing: Machine that Broke the Enigma Code and the Cryptographer Behind it http://computeraccessories.suite101.com/article.cfm/colossus_computer_and_alan_turing#ixzz0j7g3RNp2

Posted By :
Jayanthi GM(Course Instructor Java,PESIT)
Prashanth Raghu (Student Assistant)