Opening Statement: What is Computation?
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Authors
Denning, Peter J.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2012-07-01
Date
July 01, 2012
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Language
Abstract
Most people understand a computation as a process evoked when a computational agent acts on its
inputs under the control of an algorithm. The classical Turing machine model has long served as
the fundamental reference model because an appropriate Turing machine can simulate every other
computational model known. The Turing model is a good abstraction for most digital computers
because the number of steps to execute a Turing machine algorithm is predictive of the running
time of the computation on a digital computer. However, the Turing model is not as well matched
for the natural, interactive, and continuous information processes frequently encountered today.
Other models whose structures more closely match the information processes involved give better
predictions of running time and space. Models based on transforming representations may be useful.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/bxs066
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
6 p.
Citation
Denning, Peter J. "Opening Statement: What is Computation?." The Computer Journal 55.7 (2012): 805-810.