EDVAC Meaning and
Definition
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EDVAC, also known as the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer, is a type of early electronic computer designed and developed by John von Neumann and his colleagues in the early 1940s. It is considered one of the first stored-program computers, which means that both instructions and data were stored in the computer's memory for processing.
The EDVAC utilized vacuum tubes, magnetic storage, and punched cards for input and output operations. It featured a central processing unit (CPU) that executed instructions by fetching them from memory, decoding them, and then executing the necessary operations. This concept of instruction fetch-decode-execute has become the foundation of modern computer architectures.
With a memory capacity of about 1,000 words, each consisting of 44 bits, the EDVAC was able to perform complex calculations and solve mathematical problems. It greatly advanced the capabilities of computing by introducing the concept of the stored-program concept, allowing for more flexible and efficient computations. Additionally, the ability to store both data and instructions in memory allowed for the development of high-level programming languages and compilers.
The EDVAC marked a significant milestone in computer history, influencing subsequent computer designs and serving as a foundation for the development of modern computers. Its design principles set the stage for the development of computers with faster processing speeds, larger memory capacities, and increased computational capabilities.
Common Misspellings for EDVAC
