Turing knew both sides

Alan Turing worked on two different questions: what any computing machine could do in principle, and how to build useful machines in practice.

In 1936, before programmable electronic computers existed, he described an imaginary device now called a .

During the Second World War, he joined thousands of people working at . Turing helped develop methods and machinery used to find the changing settings of , which Germany used to hide military messages.

After the war, he designed a computer called ACE and later wrote programs for the Manchester computer.

By 1950, Turing was not asking about machines from a distance. He had spent years moving between abstract rules and working computers.

Turing knew both sides

Alan Turing worked on two different questions: what any computing machine could do in principle, and how to build useful machines in practice.

In 1936, before programmable electronic computers existed, he described an imaginary device now called a .

After the war, he designed a computer called ACE and later wrote programs for the Manchester computer.

By 1950, Turing was not asking about machines from a distance. He had spent years moving between abstract rules and working computers.