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Key Contributors: John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert

The development of the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) marked a seminal moment in the history of computing, and at the heart of this innovation were two remarkable individuals: John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert.

John Mauchly

John William Mauchly, born on August 30, 1907, was an American physicist and computing pioneer. He is renowned for his collaboration with J. Presper Eckert in designing the ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, which laid the groundwork for the EDVAC. Mauchly's profound interest in the potential of electronic computing led him to investigate the computing needs of various sectors, ultimately leading to his co-founding of the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation.

Mauchly's early career intersected with the work of John Vincent Atanasoff, whose Atanasoff-Berry Computer influenced his thoughts on computing mechanisms. In December 1940, Mauchly encountered Atanasoff at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a pivotal moment in his pursuit of electronic computing.

J. Presper Eckert

John Adam Presper "Pres" Eckert Jr., born on April 9, 1919, was an influential American electrical engineer and computer pioneer. Together with John Mauchly, Eckert revolutionized computing technology through the creation of the ENIAC, and later, the conception of the EDVAC, one of the first stored-program computers. The Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, which they founded in March 1946, played a crucial role in the development and commercialization of computers, notably the UNIVAC I, which was among the first commercially available computers.

Eckert also contributed significantly to advancements in computer memory technology. He invented the delay-line memory, a method utilized in early computers including the EDVAC and the UNIVAC I.

Partnership and Legacy

The partnership between Mauchly and Eckert was instrumental in the evolution of modern computing. Their collaboration at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering facilitated discussions with notable figures such as John von Neumann, which influenced the architecture of modern computers. The Von Neumann architecture was partly inspired by these discussions, underscoring the significance of Mauchly and Eckert's contributions to computing.

The EDVAC concept, proposed in August 1945 by Mauchly and Eckert, introduced the idea of a stored-program computer, a revolutionary concept at the time. This innovation paved the way for future developments in computing, establishing Mauchly and Eckert as pivotal figures in the history of computer science.

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Key Contributors to EDVAC

The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) was a crucial development in the history of computing, succeeding the ENIAC and laying the groundwork for modern computer architecture. Its construction and conceptualization involved several pioneering figures whose contributions were pivotal.

John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert

John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert were instrumental in the initial proposal and design of the EDVAC. Both had previously worked on the development of the ENIAC, and their experiences significantly influenced the architectural improvements implemented in the EDVAC. Mauchly and Eckert focused on creating a machine that would utilize stored programs, a groundbreaking concept at the time. Their work on the ENIAC's logical design informed the enhancements seen in the EDVAC, such as its use of binary rather than decimal systems.

John von Neumann

John von Neumann played a critical role in disseminating the concepts that would form the basis of the EDVAC through his "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC." This document outlined the architecture of a stored-program computer, introducing principles such as the stored program and binary computation. Although von Neumann's draft did not explicitly credit all contributors, it heavily drew on insights from his collaborations with Mauchly and Eckert.

Herman Goldstine

Herman Goldstine, a mathematician and physicist, facilitated the collaboration between the Army and the developers. His role was crucial in securing funding and support from the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory. Goldstine's coordination efforts ensured that the project moved forward despite the technical and logistical challenges that arose during its development.

Arthur Burks

Arthur Burks, a prominent computer scientist, also contributed to the logical design of the EDVAC. Burks, who had worked alongside von Neumann, Mauchly, and Eckert, played a key role in refining the machine's architecture. His input was vital in the transition from the ENIAC's cumbersome plugboard programming to a more efficient stored-program model.

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Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC)

The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) was one of the pioneering designs in the era of early electronic computers. It was a significant advancement over its predecessor, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), in that it was designed as a stored-program computer. This was a crucial innovation that laid the groundwork for future computer architectures.

Background

Work on the EDVAC began in August 1944 at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. The computer was part of the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory initiatives during World War II, aiming to enhance the precision and efficiency of ballistic calculations.

Key Contributors

The primary architects of the EDVAC included John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, who were also instrumental in the development of the ENIAC. They proposed the construction of EDVAC in August 1945, with the project officially commencing in April 1946. John von Neumann also played a crucial role in the project as a consultant. His contributions were especially notable in the realm of logical design, which he summarized in his "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC" in 1945.

Design and Architecture

Unlike the ENIAC, the EDVAC was designed to be a binary rather than decimal computer, marking a significant shift in computing methodology. It was a serial computer, meaning it processed one operation at a time in sequence. The design included automatic capabilities for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and programmed division, and it featured an automatic checking mechanism to ensure accuracy.

A notable technological feature of the EDVAC was its ultrasonic serial memory, which had a capacity of 1,024 44-bit words. This memory was based on delay line technology, which utilized the propagation of sound waves through a medium as a means of storage—a precursor to modern random-access memory (RAM).

Von Neumann Architecture

The conceptual foundation of the EDVAC's design was based on what is now known as the von Neumann architecture. This architectural model established that a computer's program and the data it processes should be stored in the same memory space. This was a revolutionary departure from earlier designs that required separate storage for instructions and data.

Impact and Legacy

The EDVAC represented a significant evolution in computing history, influencing subsequent computers such as the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) and the Manchester Mark 1. It demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of the stored-program concept, which became the standard for computer architecture in the subsequent decades.

The concepts developed for the EDVAC, particularly those documented by von Neumann, have had enduring impacts on the field of computer science, forming the basis for the design of almost all modern computers. This makes EDVAC not just a historical artifact but a cornerstone in the evolution of digital computing.

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