During World War II , the best numerical mind in Britain gathered at a place called Bletchley Park to decipher the secret computer code used by the Axis . To assist the summons , they developed the Colossus Mk 1 and Mk 2 , some of the first machine recognisable as programmable computers . And now UK computer scientist are up in arms over the current state of Bletchley Park – some of the buildings are literally falling asunder . Never underestimate the might of furious calculator geeks , though . They ’ve got a plan to fix it .
If you ’re a history buff or have read Neal Stephenson ’s Cryptonomicon ( as I ’m in the midst of doing ) , you might be conversant with Bletchley Park . It was in this converted country estate of the realm that German Enigma code were deciphered ( the Polish had disclose the code a few days prior ) , among many others , and where the first Colossus computer were built . Using over 2,000 vacuity tubes each , these computers read punched datum tapeline and could check the starting positions of the wheel used in German code machines , greatly rush the codebreaking effort . Early computer theorist Alan Turing process at Bletchley , though he was not directly involved in Colossus design .
Although the estate of the realm is a museum , it ’s hard underfunded . Dr. Sue Black , head of computer science at the University of Westminster , is go more than 100 computer scientist in feat to get more financial support — via legalized gambling . Dr. Black told the BBC that the current stipulation of Bletchley is “ a national disgrace . ” They be after to take reward of Modern funding rule that would allow theBletchley Park Trustto gain access to national drawing fund . Meanwhile , the estate retain to deteriorate . Image by : Bletchley Park Trust via Stony Brook University .

‘ Neglect ’ of Bletchley condemned.[BBC News ]
alan turingScience
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