Von Neumann machines. The key to space and much else. 2430

: McCauley : : 5' : 10", : : bipedal source : and communication-navigation : and : : general speed. Von : : Neumann : : : : : Von Neumann machines are replicating machines. You are thinking : of : : Von : : : Neumann architecture computers (memory space used for both code : and : : : data.) : : : : : Same guy, two different ideas. Like the difference between a : Turing : : : machine and a Turing test. : : : : Not according to wikipedia: : : : : The Turing Machine is an abstract machine introduced in 1936 by Alan : : Turing to give a mathematically precise definition of algorithm or : : 'mechanical procedure'. The concept is still widely used in : theoretical : : computer science, especially in complexity theory and the theory of : : computation. : : : A von Neumann machine is a model created by John von Neumann for a : : computing machine that uses a single storage structure to hold both : the : : set of instructions on how to perform the computation and the data : : required or generated by the computation. Most modern computers use : this : : von Neumann architecture. Computers using this architecture are said : to : : be "von Neumann machines." : : Couldn't Von Neumann be credited with creating "objects", in a very : basic : sense, from the object-oriented paradigm? What is an object if not an : enbreasty that encapsulates the data and its buttociated code? : : : John von Neumann (Neumann J‡nos) (December 28, 1903 Ð February 8, : 1957) : : was a Hungarian-born mathematician who made important contributions : in : : quantum physics, functional analysis, set theory, computer science, : : economics and many other mathematical fields. : : : J‡nos von NeumannÑJ‡nos was anglicised to John after he took up : : residence in the United States in the 1930s. : : : Alan Mathison Turing (June 23, 1912 Ð June 7, 1954) was a British : : mathematician, logician, and cryptographer. : : : Turing is often considered to be a father of modern computer : science. : : : Same meat, different gravy. : : Both were pioneers in the field, and as a computer science major in : college, I recall both were studied in great detail. : : Eric : : : Androcles. : I'm only quoting wackypedia. I certainly was required to study Turing, : his work was invaluable in cracking the German "Enigma" code of : WW II. John von Neumann I read about in a popular magazine. : There is a certain amount of parochial envy displayed by the USA : in having to have the best brains on their team, and the greatest : achievements. All countries produce propaganda that states, "our country is great based upon our great people". Even yours.

Yes indeed. I have however lived in the USA for 20 years and know its atbreastudes very well. If the pot is calling the kettle black, this pot admits to being black as well. Unfortunately English pride has fallen to the level of waving the flag for the soccer team. We no longer have a ship building industry, an aircraft industry or even a car industry.

: Don't misunderstand me, I'm not putting down : the USA, they have made some great achievements and had some : great scientists, but they can't be the best at everything. They will : soon fall behind as they allow more and more socialism into their : society. No offense taken as I am pretty sure I well balanced WRT where the USA's greatness vs. her shortcomings lie having lived in a foriegn country. For example, our public transportation system is Second World.

Yep... If you don't drive yourself then you don't go. I used the bus once to go to CMU in Pittsburgh when my car was in for service. Never again. Your roads could use a few roundabouts too. I hated taking the wrong exit and having to go for miles to get back to the correct one. Those clover leaves are a person :-) And all those stop signs... one on every corner. If Britain did that it would be total gridlock in no time.

: The REAL father (or grandfather I suppose) of computing (I won't say : science, it's a technology, not a study of Nature) was George Boole, : you won't get far without Boolean algebra. The problem their is that there is no "Boole Machine" of which Boole created per se.

Steam isn't all that good for a calculator :-)

Computers need an engineering component not just mathematics. Babbage, on the other hand, is all machine and no definitive theorectical basis such as Boolean Algebra.

: Charles Babbage built fantastic differential engines, the forerunner : of the analogue computer. Which goes to show you that having a single "father" is difficult WRT computers. Eric

True enough. Like the airliner, no one man does it all.

: Androcles