What are the two major improvements of EDVAC?

EDVAC has two major improvements: one is the use of binary, and the other is the completion of the stored program, which can automatically advance from one program instruction to the next, and its operations can be automatically completed through instructions. "Instructions" include data and programs, which are input into the memory device of the machine in the form of codes, that is, the same memory device that stores data is used to store instructions for performing operations. This is the new concept of so-called stored programs.

The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 7 system, Dell G3 computer.

The Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (English: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer, EDVAC) is an early American electronic computer. Unlike its predecessor ENIAC, EDVAC used binary and was a von Neumann architecture computer.

In 1946, when von Neumann was developing the EDVAC computer, he proposed two important improvements: first, the use of binary, and second, the completion of the stored program, which can automatically From one program instruction to the next, the work can be completed automatically through instructions. "Instructions" include data and programs, which are input into the memory device of the machine in the form of codes, that is, the same memory device that stores data is used to store instructions for performing operations. This is the new concept of so-called stored programs. This concept has been hailed as a milestone in the history of computing. Von Neumann, who contributed to this program, is known as the "Father of Computers."

In 1945, von Neumann drafted a 101-page summary report titled "Draft Report on EDVAC". The report presented broadly and specifically new ideas in building electronic computers and programming. This report is an epoch-making document in the history of computer development. It announces to the world that the era of electronic computers has begun.

The EDVAC plan clearly laid out that the new machine is composed of five parts, including: arithmetic unit, logic control device, memory, input and output equipment, and described the functions and interrelationships of these five parts. In the report, Neumann further demonstrated the two major design ideas in EDVAC, setting a milestone for computer design.

One of the design ideas is binary. Based on the bistable working characteristics of electronic components, he suggested using binary in electronic computers. The report mentioned the advantages of binary and predicted that the adoption of binary will greatly simplify the logic circuit of the machine.

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It can be said that EDVAC is the first general-purpose computer in the modern sense. Unlike ENIAC, the world's first electronic computer, EDVAC used binary instead of decimal for the first time. The entire computer uses a total of about 6,000 electron tubes and about 12,000 diodes, has a power of 56KW, covers an area of ​​45.5 square meters, and weighs 7850KG. It requires thirty technicians to operate at the same time.

It consists of five basic parts: 1) operator CA (2) controller CC (3) memory M (4) input device I (5) output device O;

This This architecture has continued to this day. The basic working principles of computers used today are still stored programs and program control, so computers are now generally called von Neumann architecture computers. In view of the key role von Neumann played in the invention of electronic computers, he is hailed by Westerners as the "Father of Computers".

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