Title :
What Is a Computer? An Answer from the Past
Author :
Bergin, Thomas J.
Author_Institution :
American Univ., Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
The definition of the computer has changed over time as it has increased in capacity and capability. This articles contains one of the earliest definitions by J. Presper Eckert, one of the fathers of the computer field. The purpose of this contribution to the Annals is to record in the published literature a press release on the EDVAC II effort from March 1947 when no stored-program computers existed anywhere.
Keywords :
computer science; history; Annals; EDVAC II; Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer; computer capability; computer capacity; Computers; History; Armand Adams; EDVAC II; EMCC; J. Presper Eckert; John Mauchly; history of computing; stored-program computers;
Journal_Title :
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MAHC.2014.48
