# Turing Machines and Understanding Computational Complexity

**Authors:** P. M. B. Vitanyi  
**arXiv:** [1201.1223](https://arxiv.org/abs/1201.1223)  
**Date:** 2012-01-05  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1201.1223v1/

## Abstract

We describe the Turing Machine, list some of its many influences on the theory of computation and complexity of computations, and illustrate its importance.