Author: Tony Petters
Date: 08:42:45 07/15/04
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On July 15, 2004 at 11:14:36, GuyHaworth wrote: > >I'd be surprised if Turing actually "wrote a computer program" to play chess. > >He devised a position evaluation algorithm based on piece-values and mobility, >and - with himself as the machine - executed the algorithm (not quite correctly) >in playing a short game. > >g I understand what you are saying. The question is, "What is a computer program?" or "What is code?" or "What is an Algorithm?" "In 1950, the first computer chess program was written by Alan Turing, a British researcher who pioneered the field of digital computers. At the time, Turing had to settle with a simulation of the execution of his program with pencil and paper. Turing's program was a terrible player, but it served well its main purpose: it showed that computers can play chess." So the question is: Does "pencil-and-paper" 'program' 'code' or 'algorithm' count as a computer program ? Myself, I think the set of instructions compiled by Turing and him acting as the computer calculator qualifies as a computer program. However, I am open to comments on this matter. It seems historians believe Turing did write the first chess program in history. Cordially
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