A decade later, in 1945, John Von Neumann9 further expanded
on this notion, which led to the development of the well-known Electronic Discrete Variable
Automatic Computer (EDVAC).10 Memory, arithmetic logic unit, control unit, input, and output
were the major machine parts that constituted the fundamental ingredients of Von Neumann??™s
architecture.
Another testimony that recognized a machine as a logical entity was propounded by Allen
Newell in 1987: ???A machine is something that defines a function (in the mathematical sense of
correspondence) from its input to its output, and will produce an output when given its input.???11
These developments expanded the definition of a machine beyond its traditional mechanical
meaning. The new idea both embodied processes and functionalities of a machine??™s internal
components and assigned certain duties to them. This separation of responsibilities articulated
a new type of architecture that employed several participating constituents to collaboratively
provide an expected output. The interaction aspect of a machine??™s internal components was not
the only innovation introduced by this new architectural discipline. The practice of categorizing
and identifying abstractions that personify the underlying enabling architectural technology
was a major contribution to this field. Employing a similar abstract language makes it much
simpler to describe architectural concepts, identify architectural ingredients, and depict complex
functionalities.
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