Mellis & Armstrong: Teaching Turing

David A. Mellis (in collaboration with Aram Armstrong) has created a wonderful Java applet called Teaching Turing that explains finite state Turing Machines, using a 2D implementation. It walks the user through the basic steps of the machine’s operation (read state, change state, move tape head), and then allows the user to program it herself.

The friendly, pleasant graphics are a definite plus in demystifying the science, but the thing still does what it’s supposed to do. While not as eccentric as the Lego Turing Machine posted earlier this summer, it’s definitely the best implementation I have seen for non-programmers. I wish I knew about this when I was teaching a workshop last week.

Via we make money not art. Wikipedia: Turing Machine.