Turing Award

Maurice Vincent Wilkes 1980 (3, cropped)

Marvin Minsky at OLPCc

John McCarthy Stanford

Edsger Wybe Dijkstra

Charles Bachman 2012

KnuthAtOpenContentAlliance

Turing Award

The Turing Award, officially known as the ACM A.M. Turing Award, is an annual prize given by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to individuals who have made substantial contributions of lasting importance to computing. Named after Alan Turing, the British mathematician and logician who is often considered one of the fathers of computer science, the award has been bestowed since 1966. It is widely regarded as the highest honor in the field of computer science and is sometimes referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Computing."

History

The Turing Award was established in 1966 by the ACM to recognize individuals for their contributions to the field of computing that have had a lasting impact on the advancement of technology. The award is named after Alan Turing, whose work in theoretical and practical computing laid the groundwork for the modern computer. The first recipient of the Turing Award was Alan Perlis, recognized for his influence in the area of advanced programming techniques and compiler construction.

Award Criteria

The Turing Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions of lasting importance to computing. Criteria for the award include the technical depth and breadth of the work, its significance in the field, the novelty of the contribution, and the impact it has had on computer science and beyond. The selection is made by a committee of distinguished computer scientists and engineers from various sectors of the technology industry and academia.

Award Prize

Originally, the Turing Award came with a monetary prize of $1,000. Over the years, the prize amount has increased significantly, reflecting the growing recognition of the award and the importance of the field of computing. As of the last update, the award includes a $1 million prize, provided through the support of Google Inc. This increase in the prize amount underscores the prestige of the award and the value placed on groundbreaking contributions to computer science.

Notable Recipients

Many Turing Award winners have made foundational contributions that have had widespread impacts not only in computer science but in how society uses technology. Notable recipients include:

- Donald Knuth, awarded in 1974 for his comprehensive work on algorithm analysis and the creation of the TeX typesetting system. - Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, awarded in 1983 for their development of the UNIX operating system. - Tim Berners-Lee, awarded in 2016 for inventing the World Wide Web, the first web browser, and the fundamental protocols and algorithms allowing the Web to scale.

Impact on the Field

The Turing Award has played a significant role in recognizing and promoting excellence in computer science. It highlights the achievements of individuals whose work has propelled the field forward and has had a profound impact on the world. The award not only honors the legacy of Alan Turing but also inspires future generations to pursue innovation and excellence in computing.

See Also

- Computer Science - Association for Computing Machinery - Nobel Prize in Physics - Fields Medal

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