Cryptographic Rotor
I believe this is a rotor used in a "bombe" that was used to decrypt codes during World War II.
Seen at the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland.
An observation from someone who is not an expert in cryptography: Cryptography is about converting order (a written or spoken message) to disorder (an encrypted communication with no clear patterns) and vice versa. Thus, I find it interesting that a number of tools for cryptography—especially prior to the digital age—have a physical order or pattern.
Cryptographic Rotor
I believe this is a rotor used in a "bombe" that was used to decrypt codes during World War II.
Seen at the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland.
An observation from someone who is not an expert in cryptography: Cryptography is about converting order (a written or spoken message) to disorder (an encrypted communication with no clear patterns) and vice versa. Thus, I find it interesting that a number of tools for cryptography—especially prior to the digital age—have a physical order or pattern.