This past SatÂurÂday, we celÂeÂbratÂed the cenÂtenÂniÂal of Alan Turing’s birth by preÂsentÂing two films that explore the life and achieveÂments of the great mathematician/father of comÂputÂer sciÂence: DanÂgerÂous KnowlÂedge and BreakÂing the Code. Today, before the anniverÂsary fades into the backÂground, let us send one more film your way — this one a “short docÂuÂmenÂtary” that brings TurÂing’s famous comÂputÂing machine to life. The device, as TurÂing imagÂined it in 1936, was meant to simÂuÂlate the logÂic of comÂputÂer algoÂrithms, revealÂing the extent and limÂits of what can be comÂputÂed. TurÂing nevÂer built the machine. He only offered a conÂcepÂtuÂal blueÂprint. But two researchers at the CenÂtrum Wiskunde & InforÂmatÂiÂca in AmsÂterÂdam have kindÂly recreÂatÂed the TurÂing Machine with LEGO, and then proÂduced a short film demonÂstratÂing how the machine carÂries out the most basic funcÂtions of your comÂputÂer. Watch it go.
You can find more inforÂmaÂtion on the buildÂing and inner-workÂings of the LEGO TurÂing Machine here.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletÂter, please find it here. Or folÂlow our posts on Threads, FaceÂbook, BlueSky or Mastodon.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Free Online ComÂputÂer SciÂence CoursÂes
CamÂbridge UniÂverÂsiÂty to CreÂate a Lego ProÂfesÂsorÂship
Two Scenes from StanÂley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, RecreÂatÂed in Lego