
Alan Turing (mathematician, often associated with movement patterns in computation)
Alan Turing was a pioneering mathematician and logician who laid the groundwork for modern computing. He introduced the concept of the Turing machine, an abstract device that models how a computer processes information through a series of steps or instructions. Turing's work helped formalize algorithms and computation, making it possible for machines to perform complex tasks. During World War II, he played a crucial role in breaking German codes, significantly impacting the war's outcome. His ideas remain fundamental to computer science today, shaping how computers process data and solve problems through systematic, step-by-step operations.