von Neumann architecture definition
<architecture, computability> A computer architecture
conceived by mathematician John von Neumann, which forms the
core of nearly every computer system in use today (regardless
of size). In contrast to a Turing machine, a von Neumann
machine has a random-access memory (RAM) which means that
each successive operation can read or write any memory
location, independent of the location accessed by the previous
operation.
A von Neumann machine also has a central processing unit
(CPU) with one or more registers that hold data that are
being operated on. The CPU has a set of built-in operations
(its instruction set) that is far richer than with the
Turing machine, e.g. adding two binary integers, or
branching to another part of a program if the binary integer
in some register is equal to zero (conditional branch).
The CPU can interpret the contents of memory either as
instructions or as data according to the fetch-execute
cycle.
Von Neumann considered parallel computers but recognized the
problems of construction and hence settled for a sequential
system. For this reason, parallel computers are sometimes
referred to as non-von Neumann architectures.
A von Neumann machine can compute the same class of functions
as a universal Turing machine.
[Reference? Was von Neumann's design, unlike Turing's,
originally intended for physical implementation?]
http://www.salem.mass.edu/~tevans/VonNeuma.htm.
(2003-05-16)
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von Neumann integer definition
<mathematics> A finite von Neumann ordinal.
The von Neumann integer N is a finite set with N elements
which are the von Neumann integers 0 to N-1. Thus
0 = {} = {}
1 = {0} = {{}}
2 = {0, 1} = {{}, {{}}}
3 = {0, 1, 2} = {{}, {{}}, {{}, {{}}}}
...
The set of von Neumann integers is infinite, even though
each of its elements is finite.
[Origin of name?]
(1995-03-30)
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voltage « Volume Table Of Contents « von Neumann architecture « von Neumann integer » von Neumann, John » von Neumann machine » von Neumann ordinal
von Neumann, John definition
John von Neumann
Nearby terms:
Volume Table Of Contents « von Neumann architecture « von Neumann integer « von Neumann, John » von Neumann machine » von Neumann ordinal » voodoo programming
von Neumann machine definition
von Neumann architecture
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von Neumann architecture « von Neumann integer « von Neumann, John « von Neumann machine » von Neumann ordinal » voodoo programming » Voronoi diagram
von Neumann ordinal definition
<mathematics> An implementation of ordinals in set theory
(e.g. Zermelo Fränkel set theory or ZFC). The von Neumann
ordinal alpha is the well-ordered set containing just the
ordinals "shorter" than alpha.
"Reasonable" set theories (like ZF) include Mostowski's
Collapsing Theorem: any well-ordered set is isomorphic to
a von Neumann ordinal. In really screwy theories (e.g. NFU --
New Foundations with Urelemente) this theorem is false.
The finite von Neumann ordinals are the von Neumann
integers.
(1995-03-30)
Nearby terms:
von Neumann integer « von Neumann, John « von Neumann machine « von Neumann ordinal » voodoo programming » Voronoi diagram » Voronoi polygon
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