William Grey Walter
Also known as Grey Walter
William Grey Walter was a neurophysiologist who built the Machina speculatrix tortoise robots. Born in Kansas City in 1910, he took a first class in physiology at King's College, Cambridge, in 1931, detected a cerebral tumour with electroencephalography in 1936, and from 1939 directed physiology at the Burden Neurological Institute in Bristol. The tortoises were exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951, and he published The Living Brain in 1953. In 1964 he described the contingent negative variation in Nature. A road accident in 1970 caused severe brain damage, and he died of a heart attack in 1977.
Timeline
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1910–1931
Physiology at Cambridge
He is born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1910. This neurophysiologist studies at King's College, Cambridge, from 1928 and takes a first class in physiology in 1931.
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1936
Finding a brain tumour
In 1936 he detects a cerebral tumour with electroencephalography at the Maudsley Hospital.
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1939
Director at the Burden
In 1939 he becomes director of physiology at the Burden Neurological Institute in Bristol.
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1949
The Ratio Club
The Ratio Club meets from 1949 to 1955, and he takes part.
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1949–1951
Elmer and Elsie
In 1949 he builds tortoise robots named Elmer and Elsie, called Machina speculatrix. In 1951 Machina speculatrix is exhibited at the Festival of Britain.
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1953
The Living Brain
He publishes The Living Brain in 1953.
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1964
Contingent negative variation
In 1964 he describes the contingent negative variation in Nature.
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1970–1977
A road accident
In 1970 a road accident leaves him with severe brain damage and ends his career. He dies of a heart attack in 1977.
Sources and credits
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