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22 Aug 2002
Sophisticated hackers may be suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a neurobiological disorder that resembles mild autism, according to researchers at Cambridge University.
Australian clinical psychologist Tony Attwood told Next magazine that he believes some hackers may share characteristics with Asperger's sufferers.
Further reading
Like elite-end hackers, many sufferers are exceptionally skilled in a specialised area.
Attwood told the magazine that there does not appear to be any in-depth research linking illegal hacking and the syndrome, but the link between Asperger's and computers is well known.
He explained that computers were designed by and for people with Asperger's, who seem to know the language of computers better than social or conventional languages.
Historically, the syndrome has been linked to at least one area that has become a key part of computer security: cryptography.
Attwood said that the team that cracked the Enigma code appeared to include several individuals who showed characteristics of Asperger's, including the father of modern computing, Alan Turing.
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Go Tony Go
Hey this Aspie Geek just loves this. Go Tony Go! Maybe when all the NTs out there realize that undiagnosed Aspies have been contributing so very much to our society they will stop treating Autism Spectrum Disorders like they need to be cured. We are not sick or broken and we don't need to have all of our unique skills "cured" out of us. I was tapped by crypto when I was in the Army (it is a job they don't even list because it is so highly selective) because of the ridiculously high score I made on some tests. I was offered OCS and turned it all down because I didn't like the idea of the that job. Bram Cohen is an Aspie and so is Steven Spielberg and Vernon Smith. Aspies Rule!
Posted by: AspieGeek 07 Nov 2007
Patterns found where none exist
Is that autism, or the lack of autism? I notice it's a pattern.
Posted by: Frost Hawk 10 Aug 2006
Some Hackers....
"...some hackers may share characteristics with Asperger's sufferers." Some hackers are vegetarians. Some hackers eat meat. Some hackers like Coke while others like Pepsi. Oh wait don't forget how we like to drink Jolt Cola! Some like Linux some like *BSD some like PS2, some are female and some are not. If you get my suddle hint this is just crap. Maybe I should become a "clinical psychologist". Here is my upcomming study... "Link found between caffeine and hacking" World news if I do say so myself :)
Posted by: Megahertz 16 Oct 2005