NEWS CHANNELTo celebrate the centenary of Alan Turing’s birth and highlight the importance of his contribution to computing, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has today (Wednesday) published its latest book, Alan Turing and His Contemporaries: Building the world’s first computers.
Sponsored by BCS’ Computer Conservation Society, the book focuses on the years 1945 to 1955, celebrating the efforts of those who produced revolutionary technology such as the world’s first fully-functioning stored-program computer and the first application to business data processing.
Simon Lavington, editor of the book, said:”For many Turing is an iconic figure in the world of computing and his achievements are still very much evident today.
“One hundred years after his birth, this book emphasises the importance of Turing’s and his contemporaries’ contributions to the world, and their influence on the modern computer.”
The book tells the story of the people and projects that flourished during the post-war period when, in spite of economic austerity and gloom, British ingenuity came up with some notable successes. It is written by acknowledged experts of computer history, in an accessible manner with many illustrations and photographs and features detailed technical information that is very hard to find elsewhere and provides real insight into people and places that helped shape the technological world we live in today. Kate Russell, technology reporter for BBC Click said: “There can be no doubt that Alan Turing was a brilliant man who changed the course of history in countless ways, but there were many other brilliant minds involved in bringing computer science to life and ultimately into our homes.
“This fascinating book reminds us of the importance of their contribution; a fitting tribute to those who gave the world so much.”
The myth of a lone inventor is rarely true - this book leads the reader through complex but intriguing stories of the sung and unsung heroes and machines of a pioneering computing industry.
The book retails at £12.99. To order online visit www.bcs.org/books/turing
