雙語暢銷書《艾倫圖靈傳》第8章:水銀延時線(52)
Writing to von Neumann on 8 February 1946, Newman had explained that he was hoping to embark on a computing machine section here, having got very interested in electronic devices of this kind during the last two or three years.
By about 18 months ago I had decided to try my hand at starting up a machine unit when I got out.
大約18個月前，我就決定要着手建造一種機器，It was indeed one of my reasons for coming to Manchester that the set-up here is favourable in several ways.
我之所以來到曼徹斯特，原因之一就是因爲這裏在該領域有很多先進的設備。
This was before I knew anything of the American work, or of the scheme for a unit at the National Physical Laboratory.
在這之前，我從未知道美國方面和國家物理實驗室的任何計劃，Later I heard of the various American machines, existing and projected, from Hartree and Flowers.
後來我從哈特里和弗洛文斯那裏，得知了各式各樣的美國機器，包括已完成的和正在研究的。Once the NPL project was started it became questionable whether a further unit was wanted. My view was that in this, as in other branches of technology, basic research is wanted, which can go on without worrying about getting into production ...
國家物理實驗室的項目啓動之後，很難說是否還需要另一個組織來進行該領域的研究。但是我認爲，仍然需要進行一些純理論的、無需考慮生產問題的基礎性研究……Newman's intention was that mathematical problems of an entirely different kind from those so far tackled by machines might be tried, e.g. testing out (say) the 4-colour theorem or various theorems on lattices, groups, etc. ...
紐曼的想法是：我們可以嘗試用機器來解決一些完全不同的問題，比如四色定理，以及各類關於格和羣的問題等等……He explained that
他還說道：Anyhow, I have put in an application to the Royal Society for a grant of enough to make a start.
總之，我已經向皇家學會提交了一份啓動資金的申請。I am of course in close touch with Turing.
當然，我還與圖靈保持着密切的聯繫。After discussion with him, and hearing Hartree and Flowers, it seemed to me that if we start on 'mathematical' problems here, in the above sense, we ought to be able to manage with considerably less storage, though I have asked to the Royal Society to be prepared for something fairly substantial.
當我與圖靈討論、並聽取了哈特里和弗洛文斯的想法之後，我認爲如果我們從數學問題入手，從上述意義來說，我們需要使用一些存儲設備，當然我還向皇家學會申請了一些其它的支持。
