STRAY THOUGHTS
THE IMITATION GAME
Elsewhere in this blog, I wrote an appreciation of the film , " The Theory of Everything " which is a biopic on Stephen Hawkins, a great theoretical physicist. This film is on another genius ," Alan Turing " who laid the foundation of theoretical computer science. Really a tragic story of a brilliant mind. Kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch who incarnates as Alan Turing wonderfully . What great acting ! It was Alan Turing who cracked the German secret code , " Enigma " during the Second World War and hastened the successful completion of the war by the Allied forces. The Allies owe their victory in no small measure due to the efforts of Turing in decoding the Enigma . He showed that more than muscles, brain is essential to win the war. Turing test is about whether a machine can imitate human intelligence. When a machine passes the Turing Test it is as good as Human. Artificial intelligence were laid on strong theoretical foundations by Alan Turing. It is said that his efforts saved thousands of lives.
What sad destiny awaits this remarkable mind ! Criminal proceedings were initiated against him for indecent behavior .His only fault was that nature gave him a sexual orientation different from the majority . He shared the same fate as that of Oscar Wilde, another genius of a writer. While Wilde languished in prison, Turing chose to undergo hormonal treatment , euphemism for castration ,in lieu of two years imprisonment . That treatment devastated him.
One can not contain his/ her tears when Turing asks his boss, " Am I a machine ? Am I a human being ? Am I a criminal ? A sensitive mind, he ended his life within one year of the hormonal treatment . He was only 41. Were he spared a longer life, what all he could have achieved .
A genius who saved thousands of lives had to end his life prematurely , thanks to the barbaric legislation in vogue during those days in Great Britain .
What is the use of a posthumous pardon to him by the Queen in the twenty first century ?
Who is to pardon whom ?
It is the barbaric legal system which should beg for pardon.
A great film not to be missed !
Sayee Jayaraman
11/02/2015
THE IMITATION GAME
Elsewhere in this blog, I wrote an appreciation of the film , " The Theory of Everything " which is a biopic on Stephen Hawkins, a great theoretical physicist. This film is on another genius ," Alan Turing " who laid the foundation of theoretical computer science. Really a tragic story of a brilliant mind. Kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch who incarnates as Alan Turing wonderfully . What great acting ! It was Alan Turing who cracked the German secret code , " Enigma " during the Second World War and hastened the successful completion of the war by the Allied forces. The Allies owe their victory in no small measure due to the efforts of Turing in decoding the Enigma . He showed that more than muscles, brain is essential to win the war. Turing test is about whether a machine can imitate human intelligence. When a machine passes the Turing Test it is as good as Human. Artificial intelligence were laid on strong theoretical foundations by Alan Turing. It is said that his efforts saved thousands of lives.
What sad destiny awaits this remarkable mind ! Criminal proceedings were initiated against him for indecent behavior .His only fault was that nature gave him a sexual orientation different from the majority . He shared the same fate as that of Oscar Wilde, another genius of a writer. While Wilde languished in prison, Turing chose to undergo hormonal treatment , euphemism for castration ,in lieu of two years imprisonment . That treatment devastated him.
One can not contain his/ her tears when Turing asks his boss, " Am I a machine ? Am I a human being ? Am I a criminal ? A sensitive mind, he ended his life within one year of the hormonal treatment . He was only 41. Were he spared a longer life, what all he could have achieved .
A genius who saved thousands of lives had to end his life prematurely , thanks to the barbaric legislation in vogue during those days in Great Britain .
What is the use of a posthumous pardon to him by the Queen in the twenty first century ?
Who is to pardon whom ?
It is the barbaric legal system which should beg for pardon.
A great film not to be missed !
Sayee Jayaraman
11/02/2015
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