雙語暢銷書《艾倫圖靈傳》第8章:水銀延時線(68)
There was, however, a triple misunderstanding.
For one thing, there was still the strong possibility of Manchester funding allowing Williams to develop his storage independently of NPL requirements.
首先，威廉姆斯即使得到了曼徹斯特的資助，他仍然可以獨立於國家物理實驗室，轉頭去做自己的存儲器。For another, the ACE design and programming had been done for a delay line store, and would have to be completely reworked if policy changed to the use of cathode ray tubes.
第二，ACE原定採用的是延遲線存儲，如果改用陰極射線管，幾乎所有的設計和編程都必須推倒重來。
Very probably Darwin and Womersley did not appreciate that the storage medium effectively dictated many aspects of the design of the machine and its programming.
沃默斯利和達爾文，對於這臺機器的設計和編程竟然如此依賴於存儲介質，感到很不滿意。Alan might not have minded rewriting everything if it meant that progress could be achieved, but there was a deeper difficulty.
圖靈則認爲這不是問題，只要能取得進展，他不介意重寫所有的東西，但實際上，這確實會造成更嚴重的困難。While Darwin spoke as though he had had a 'mathematician' to lay down a design, and now was finding a practical man to build it, Williams' attitude was that he was negotiating for funds wherewith to construct his computer.
還有一個更爲本質的誤解，對於達爾文而言，他要做計算機，圖靈已經做好了設計工作，他現在是要找一個能幹活的人，把這份設計實現出來。但是對於威廉姆斯來說，他是要做他自己的計算機，他是來找資金的。They were talking at cross-purposes. Success would depend upon bridging that gap, so closely tied in with social class, between 'mathematics' and 'engineering'. But the crossing of demarcation lines was very difficult now.
他們討論的壓根就不是一碼事。成功的關鍵在於跨越"數學"和"工程"之間的鴻溝，而這實在太困難了。Hartree, wanting to see more cooperation, took the next step.
現在還有一張合作牌，握在哈特里手上。On 19 November he explained to Darwin that 'Mr Wilkes was prepared to give as much help as he could on the ACE as he had facilities at Cambridge;
11月19日，他告訴達爾文："威爾克斯先生準備在ACE項目上幫助我們，他在劍橋擁有相關的設備，he had experience of making up (delay) lines and would exchange information with Dr Turing.'
在延遲線方面也很有經驗，可以讓他與圖靈博士交流一下。"Next day Wilkes wrote28 to Womersley:
第二天，威爾克斯寫信給沃默斯利：I believe Professor Hartree has told you that I am beginning to do a little work on electronic calculating machines and that I am anxious to co-operate with you.
我相信哈特里教授已經告訴你，我準備做一些電子計算機方面的工作，並且非常希望與你們合作。As you know I recently paid a visit to the United States and saw what they are doing over there.
如你所知，最近我去過美國，見到了他們所做的工作。Professor Hartree said he had discussed the matter with you and thought perhaps we might be able to make some mutually advantageous arrangement.
哈特里教授告訴我，他已經和你討論過了，並且認爲我們可以達成一個雙贏的合作。
