Thursday, February 23, 2012

Alan Turing for Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth

The Fourth Plinth
The Fourth Plinth is an empty plinth in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London. It was originally intended to carry an equestrian statue but stood empty for 150 years. Towards the end of the 20th Century a commission was formed of the great and the good to consider what stature should grace the plinth. In the meantime it was decided some temporary works of art could be exhibited there. The commission then eventually decided the plinth should continue to showcase temporary sculptures in the future and the Lord Mayor's Fourth Plinth Programme was born. When I was in London last year a giant ship in a bottle was on the plinth; fitting since Admiral Nelson stands on top of the column.
   I'm now calling for a statue of Alan Turing to be on the plinth, hopefully permanently. What better way to honour the father of the modern computer, the man who Winston Churchill said single-handedly did more than anyone else to end WWII, and who pioneered the discipline of artificial intelligence. You can agree or disagree by answering this poll.

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