The Origins of Cyberspace collection described as lots 1-255 will first be offered as a single lot, subject to a reserve price. If this price is not reached, the collection will be immediately offered as individual lots as described in the catalogue as lots 1-255.
ECKERT, J. Presper. "Factors affecting balanced design in automatic computing systems." Typed document with a few manuscript additions. N.p, June 9, 1955. 22ff. In blue stiff-paper spiral binder.
Details
ECKERT, J. Presper. "Factors affecting balanced design in automatic computing systems." Typed document with a few manuscript additions. N.p, June 9, 1955. 22ff. In blue stiff-paper spiral binder.
Text of a speech delivered at Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan on June 9, 1955. The speech is interesting in that it shows Eckert's thoughts as to how a computer should be designed and also details "The Memory Lesson" which sparked his interest in computer memories for the rest of his life (MRW): "The ENIAC ... provided the lesson from which one of the more important principles of computer design was developed. We were faced with the problems of how to choose the proper amount of fixed storage and of variable storage and program storage for the ENIAC. We were plagued by such problems as how many function tables to include or how many accumulator-registers or how many program units ... It was not until the ENIAC design was just about frozen that the real truth of the matter became apparent. Here we were designing a computer with accumulators to remember the numbers associated with the problems; we were including function tables with which to remember the constants and values of particular mathematical functions that were required for the solution of a given problem; we were supplying cables and expensive electronic programming equipment by which the ENIAC remembered the specific sequence of operations required for the solution of a given problem. What is common to all these operations is of course the word "remember." . . . [I]t was the common element of remembering which suddenly gave light to one very important phase of the problem of [design] balance. Suppose that we supplied a sufficient amount of one type of memory, completely general in nature, that could store all the data required by the problem including constants, variables and program. What we realized was the the whole process of remembering all the facts concerning a problem might be stored together in a common pool of storage elements . . . This train of thought led to the design, now so familiar to us all, in which a main storage unit is made large enough to include all the types of data necessary to the solution to a given problem. It was this demand for a large-capacity high-speed memory which forced the invention and development of such devices as the mercury delay-line memory, the electrostatic memory, the drum memory and today such devices as the magnetic-core memory. Such a large memory or storage unit is made completely universal; the programmer is free to enter any kind of data in any memory location. Here is universality in the storage elements; here is inherent balance in design." OOC 1212.
Text of a speech delivered at Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan on June 9, 1955. The speech is interesting in that it shows Eckert's thoughts as to how a computer should be designed and also details "The Memory Lesson" which sparked his interest in computer memories for the rest of his life (MRW): "The ENIAC ... provided the lesson from which one of the more important principles of computer design was developed. We were faced with the problems of how to choose the proper amount of fixed storage and of variable storage and program storage for the ENIAC. We were plagued by such problems as how many function tables to include or how many accumulator-registers or how many program units ... It was not until the ENIAC design was just about frozen that the real truth of the matter became apparent. Here we were designing a computer with accumulators to remember the numbers associated with the problems; we were including function tables with which to remember the constants and values of particular mathematical functions that were required for the solution of a given problem; we were supplying cables and expensive electronic programming equipment by which the ENIAC remembered the specific sequence of operations required for the solution of a given problem. What is common to all these operations is of course the word "remember." . . . [I]t was the common element of remembering which suddenly gave light to one very important phase of the problem of [design] balance. Suppose that we supplied a sufficient amount of one type of memory, completely general in nature, that could store all the data required by the problem including constants, variables and program. What we realized was the the whole process of remembering all the facts concerning a problem might be stored together in a common pool of storage elements . . . This train of thought led to the design, now so familiar to us all, in which a main storage unit is made large enough to include all the types of data necessary to the solution to a given problem. It was this demand for a large-capacity high-speed memory which forced the invention and development of such devices as the mercury delay-line memory, the electrostatic memory, the drum memory and today such devices as the magnetic-core memory. Such a large memory or storage unit is made completely universal; the programmer is free to enter any kind of data in any memory location. Here is universality in the storage elements; here is inherent balance in design." OOC 1212.
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