The Pink Buzz Team
The Bank of England has created a new £50 currency note and it honors a brilliant mind that helped the British break key German codes during World War II. Can you name him?
Alan Turing, also known as the father of computer science, is recognized on this new banknote made of polymer material. Born in 1912, 23 June is his birth anniversary and was hence chosen for the date to release the new currency. The same date is seen in binary code on a ticker strip just above the left shoulder of Turing's image.
The new note's design also inclues an image of his signature, one of his quotes, an image of Turing's ACE machine (Automatic Computing Engine) and technical drawing from the British Bombe machine. The British Bombe machine was one of the main tools used to dechipher German codes during WWII.
This is only a foretaste of what is to come, and only the shadow of what is going to be.
His genius codebreaker-ability helped shorten World War II and thereby saved many lives.
Alan Turing died at the young age of 41 in 1954. He most likely committed suicide. The computer pioneer was mistreated under laws that prevailed at the time and was accused of gross indecency for his relationship with a man in 1952.
The decision of featuring Alan Turing on the new British currency note sends a message of embracing diversity.
