Title :
The origins, uses, and fate of the EDVAC
Author :
Williams, Michael R.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Comput. Sci., Calgary Univ., Alta., Canada
fDate :
6/15/1905 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
It is well known that the EDVAC was the first general-purpose electronic digital stored-program computer to be designed. What is not so well known is that the EDVAC was nowhere near the first computer to be operational, was not actually constructed according to the initial design, was not reliable when constructed, and was eventually so heavily modified that it would have been almost unrecognizable to the original design team. The origins, designs, and construction of EDVAC are discussed. EDVAC´s software and later modifications are reviewed.<>
Keywords :
computer architecture; general purpose computers; history; EDVAC; Electronic Discrete Variable Computer; general-purpose electronic digital stored-program computer; software; Arithmetic; Automatic control; Computer science; Electromechanical devices; Electron tubes; History; Mathematics; Radio access networks; Vacuum technology; Wires;
Journal_Title :
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
