EDVAC

EDVAC

EDVAC computer

The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) was one of the earliest electronic computers. It was designed and developed by a team of scientists and engineers led by John von Neumann at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. EDVAC was a significant milestone in the history of computing and played a crucial role in the development of modern computer architecture.

History

EDVAC was conceived as a successor to the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), which was the first general-purpose electronic computer. ENIAC was a massive machine that used vacuum tubes for computation and was primarily used for military calculations during World War II. However, ENIAC had several limitations, including the need for manual reprogramming and a lack of stored program capability.

In 1944, von Neumann published a report titled "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC," which outlined the design principles for a new computer. The report introduced the concept of a stored program, where both data and instructions are stored in the computer's memory. This revolutionary idea allowed for more flexible and efficient computation.

Design and Architecture

EDVAC was designed to be a binary, serial computer with a word length of 44 bits. It used vacuum tubes for logic and memory elements, and magnetic tape for external storage. The computer had a memory capacity of 1,000 words, with each word consisting of 44 bits. The memory was organized into two sections: the main memory and the control memory.

The main memory stored both data and instructions, while the control memory contained microinstructions that controlled the operation of the computer. EDVAC used a single accumulator architecture, where the accumulator served as the primary register for arithmetic and logical operations.

Impact and Legacy

EDVAC had a profound impact on the development of computer architecture and laid the foundation for modern computing. Its stored program concept became the standard for all subsequent computers, allowing for the execution of complex programs without the need for manual reprogramming.

The design principles of EDVAC also influenced the development of other early computers, such as the Manchester Mark 1 and the EDSAC. These computers further advanced the field of computing and paved the way for the digital revolution.

See Also

• ENIAC
• John von Neumann
• Computer architecture
• Stored program concept