Start Date
4-28-2016 9:00 AM
End Date
4-28-2016 10:15 AM
Disciplines
European History | History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Subjects
Enigma cipher system, World War (1939-1945) -- Cryptography, Electronic intelligence, Computers -- Effect of cryptography on
Abstract
This investigation will focus on the advancements made in the field of computing by British codebreakers working on German ciphers during World War II (19391945). Along with examining the state of codebreaking technology before the war, it will discuss the nature of computing after the war up until the present to determine the impact of the war on computers. It will consider being electronic (rather than electromechanical) as the defining characteristic of modern computers. This investigation will not discuss the cryptanalysis effort by any other country during the war, nor will it consider cryptography related advancements after the war. However, it will examine the contributions of other countries to codebreaking technology prior to the war when these contributions are relevant to wartime cryptanalysis. It will also consider other countries’ contributions to computing after the war. Two sources used in this investigation, Marian Rejewski’s "How Polish Mathematicians Deciphered the Enigma" and Simon Singh’s The Code Book, will be evaluated for their value and limitation.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17125
To What Extent Did British Advancements in Cryptanalysis During World War II Influence the Development of Computer Technology?
This investigation will focus on the advancements made in the field of computing by British codebreakers working on German ciphers during World War II (19391945). Along with examining the state of codebreaking technology before the war, it will discuss the nature of computing after the war up until the present to determine the impact of the war on computers. It will consider being electronic (rather than electromechanical) as the defining characteristic of modern computers. This investigation will not discuss the cryptanalysis effort by any other country during the war, nor will it consider cryptography related advancements after the war. However, it will examine the contributions of other countries to codebreaking technology prior to the war when these contributions are relevant to wartime cryptanalysis. It will also consider other countries’ contributions to computing after the war. Two sources used in this investigation, Marian Rejewski’s "How Polish Mathematicians Deciphered the Enigma" and Simon Singh’s The Code Book, will be evaluated for their value and limitation.