TURING MACHINES Meaning and
Definition
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Turing machine refers to a theoretical model employed in the field of computer science, as proposed by British mathematician Alan Turing in the 1930s. It serves as a simplified representation of a general computational device capable of performing complex calculations and executing algorithms.
A Turing machine consists of an infinite tape divided into cells, each capable of storing a symbol. The machine possesses a head that can read and write symbols on the tape, as well as move left or right on it. It has a finite set of states and a transition function which determines its future action based on its current state and the symbol it reads.
The operation of a Turing machine involves the machine starting in a specified initial state on a particular symbol of the tape, then following the transition function to perform a series of state changes until it reaches a specified final state, designated as the halting state.
The notion of Turing machines is ubiquitous in computability theory, as they provide the foundation for understanding the limits and capabilities of computation. Turing's work demonstrates that a Turing machine can carry out any computation that any other computer can, given enough time and resources. This concept provides a theoretical framework for the study of computability and computational complexity, as well as laying the groundwork for the development of modern computers.
Etymology of TURING MACHINES
The term "Turing machine" is named after its inventor, the British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing. Alan Turing introduced the concept of Turing machines in 1936 as a theoretical device to study the limits of computation and solve problems in the field of computability theory. The term "machine" refers to the abstract nature of the device, which operates according to a set of rules or instructions. Turing machines became a fundamental concept in the development of computer science and the theory of computation.
