A Turing Machine
A mathematical model of computation that was first proposed by Alan Turing in 1936, consisting of an abstract machine that manipulates symbols on a strip of tape according to a table of rules, capable of simulating any computer algorithm no matter how complex.
Areas of application
- computer science
- mathematics
- artificial intelligence
- cognitive science
Example
For example, a Turing machine could be used to simulate the behavior of a simple calculator, with the tape representing the display screen and the machine’s movements and operations manipulating the symbols on the tape to perform calculations.