Von Neumann machines. The key to space and much else. 2429

To no great effect, since what you quoted was irrelevant to Eric's point: that Von Neumann had at least two ideas (both of which are sometimes called "Von Neumann machines", and that Turing similarly had at least two ideas. He wasn't comparing Von Neumann's work to Turing's work at all.

I'm not sure lengthy quotations from Wikipedia are much of a contribution to the group anyway.

Then I'd suggest your education in the history of computing was lacking, and you don't know enough about Von Neumann to comment on his work.

Spare us the ad hominem.

The "real father" is a meaningless distinction. Greg Chaitin makes a better case for crediting David Hilbert with inspiring modern data processing - and accidentally at that. There are computers which don't use Boolean algebra, and while I don't wish to diminish Boole's achievements, it's not hard to believe that digital computation would have arisen without them. A two-value algebra isn't much of a stretch once you have electromechanical relays on the one hand, and any two- value mathematics (eg logic or set membership) on the other.

To get back to the original point: the phrase "Von Neumann machine" does often refer to an idea Von Neumann had for self-replicating machines. It may also refer to the so-called Von Neumann (or Princeton) architecture, versus the Harvard architecture with separate instruction and data spaces.

Turing, Von Neumann, Boole, Babbage, and hundreds of others - Zuse and Jacquard and many more - were important in the development of modern computing. I think that's a given here in AFC, where we discuss things like the development of modern computing.

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I do not care to listen; obloquy injures my self-esteem and I am skeptical of praise. -- Jack Vance