You insist that there is something a machine cannot do. If you tell me precisely what it is a machine cannot do, then I can always make a machine which will do just that.
John von Neumann.
John von Neumann is a Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, engineer and polymath, one of computer technology inventors. Among other things, he is mostly famous for his major contribution to informatics, quantum physics, and economics.
In 1946, based on the critical analysis of ENIAC, John von Neumann suggested a number of new ideas dealing with the structure of electronic computer, including the concept of program stored in memory, the web portal of Novosibirsk State University reports. The implementation of von Neumann’s ideas allowed for creating computer architecture. Many features of this architecture have been preserved to the present time.
Working for the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) in Princeton, Neumann created an electronic computer of his own.
John von Neumann is also considered as one of the founding fathers of rigorous mathematical framework for quantum mechanics. In his fundamental scholar paper Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (1931), the scientist formulated his own approach to axiomatization of quantum mechanics. This work presented quantum mechanics to scientific community as logically uncontroversial system featuring rigor and consistency typical of mathematical theories.
Moreover, Neumann’s contribution to science is not limited to informatics and quantum mechanics. He is also known for outstanding works in the field of statistics, economics and certainly mathematics.
The scientist passed away on February 8, 1957, at the age of 53.
The material is based on information from open sources
Photo: nnorozoff / 123RF
