Von Neumann Architecture - Computerphile

Von Neumann Architecture is how nearly all computers are built, but who was John Von Neumann and where did the architecture come from? Professor Brailsford tells us about 'Uncle Johnny'
Extra thanks to our super sleuth secret Princeton based photographer...
/ computerphile
/ computer_phile
This video was filmed and edited by Sean Riley.
Computer Science at the University of Nottingham: bit.ly/nottscomputer
Computerphile is a sister project to Brady Haran's Numberphile. More at www.bradyharan.com

[@profdaveb6384]

Apologies to all those of you distressed by the unsolved Rubik cube (which also appeared in my recent video about the Wheeler Jump). I'm afraid it will still be there in the up-coming video(s) about EDSAC - because all of this material was filmed by Sean in the same session in early February. If we do any follow-up filming in that same room I'll ensure that the cube is solved.

[@sadinboton1487]

Prof. You are amazing!!

[@ai9862]

@@sadinboton1487 So true.

[@DenesSebestyenSebi]

I loved that Rubik cube there as it was, along with the story about Neumann, they just added up well.

[@woodywoodlstein9519]

Lol. You are the very best. Cheers from Canada professor B.

[@bananacat9139]

rathen than the cube, i was distracted more by your t-shirt, Sir.

[@_____o.r.o_____]

I am Hungarian and the fact that professor Brailsford knew how to correctly pronounce János and he also knew about the fact that we put our surname first, just made me so happy. It is so thoughtful.

[@DanielBottner1983]

Same for Göttingen. Was impressed he pronounced it perfectly.

[@benyaminhirschberg2081]

Agreed, it also made me forgive him for calling Neumann only "uncle" 😅

[@CasperBang]

5 hours ago I told a goodnight story to my daughter. Now Prof Brailsford told a goodnight story for me and just like my daughter, I crave more. Excellent video!

[@BertGrink]

One can never have too much Prof Brailsford. I love the way he spins his yarns.

[@profdaveb6384]

Hi everyone! At some time last night (24 Feb. 2018 ) "Computerphile" reached 1,000,000 subscribers! Just wish Uncle Johnny could be here to buy endless bottles of champagne for all those who became subscribers as a result of watching this video :-)

[@EliA-mm7ul]

Endless bottles of champagne? Have you done the math? Congrats! Prof.

[@Glashome]

Loved this video. as a computing student and an aficionado of history i love your narratives about about the history of computing and your eulogies of the central characters in its development. computerphile is doing an excellent job.

[@kashmirha]

You have a perfect Hungarian pronunciation Prof! :) At least for saying Neuman János. :) Great great content! Thank you!

[@navin.thamindu]

FYI sir, I'm a teenager and You guys are my role models. You are great teachers/educators. The best I have seen in my life..

[@BertGrink]

@@kashmirha Also Budapest :)

[@ZeedijkMike]

I could listen to Professor Brailsford a whole evening. Love these stories of the men and women responsible for the development of computers and their programming languages.

[@mastodans]

If you like this, you should pick up a copy of the book Turing's Cathedral. It is filled with anecdotes about Von Neumann and the IAS.

[@xpaganda]

In that case you should checkout this book about him from William Poundstone. It goes into detail about von Neumann's life, describes how he was involved in developing hydrogen bombs and the development of game theory.

[@jasonyoung8430]

Same, this is the kinda stuff you'll never read in a book. So glad its out in the world for people to learn.

[@sandraviknander7898]

100% agree, Professor Brailsford is just mesmerising ^_^

[@user-nh2lj8so9m]

@@jasonyoung8430 It didn't sound like he was talking from personal experience, more likely than not he heard everything second hand, OR from a book.

[@Fiyaaaahh]

I love Brailsford's history monologues :)

[@szapcsika]

Professor Brailsford, excellent pronunciation of Hungarian names!

[@steliostoulis1875]

Do you pronounce it *Fon* Neumann?

[@JimFortune]

Stelios Toulis Kind of. Somewhere between 'F' and 'V' in English pronunciation.

[@thorham1346]

Yes! At gunpoint if need be!

[@amatsird-nais7604]

@@steliostoulis1875 well in hungarian we say Neumann János :) but 'von' should yes be pronounced as 'fon'

[@zes3813]

wrg

[@ZhengCheng]

Title should be "Story of Von Neumann", not "Von Neumann Architecture"

[@AhsimNreiziev]

I do agree with that. Or maybe something like "Who was John von Neumann?" or anything else with an equivalent meaning. But the point is I agree with the gist of your point.

[@rogerrabbid3702]

That's exactly what I thought, pretty clickbait-y

[@thatsjusthim]

Agree

[@tomservo5007]

@@rogerrabbid3702 clickbait ?!?!? that's going too far

[@elimalinsky7069]

He did explain very briefly the specifics of the Von Neumann architecture. The fact you needed some kind of data storage so that the CPU could work on a program was common knowledge, which dates back to the mechanical tabulating machines of the early 1900s (and is specified in Babbage's Analytical Engine from the 1830s). The idea Von Neumann brought was to use memory as not just a linear stream of data from memory to the CPU but as an active component in the system, with the CPU being able to take full control of the data in memory, to store back values in memory, to randomly access memory (hence the idea of RAM) and to manipulate data dynamically between the CPU and the memory, effectively creating the need for registers and tables for register slots and how all these function and operate. The Von Neumann architecture was in a way a realization of the Turing machine using confined and limited data storage, but essentially very similar to the Turin machine principle.

[@RobinWootton]

I love the way Sean kicks off the most arcane topics with, "A Lot of people ask ... " and Professor Brailsford chuckles at the fact nobody has asked, it's just something he's offered to enlighten us on for quarter an hour!

[@wakkowarner9522]

this guy should make an Audiobook, I could listen to him for hours!

[@GuyMichaely]

title: Von Neumann Architecture Video: Von Neumann Biography

[@denisdaly1708]

The biography is more interesting.

[@CaseyHancocki3luefire]

@@denisdaly1708 possibly yes, but not the thing you are looking for if you click on a video titled "Von Neumann Architecture"

[@pihungliu35]

Many people may have heard this little story about von Neumann: There's this math puzzle about a fly flying between two trains approaching each other, turns around when it reaches the either side of the train, and then asks you to find out how far the fly have flied until the two trains met. Von Neumann gave the correct answer almost immediately, and when asked about if he is using the shortcut solution, he responded that he explicitly summed up the infinite series to get the answer.

[@TheGrimravager]

yeah well I mean obviously 1+ 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 .... = 2 so I can see how that is done

[@istvanbitter6923]

Von Neumann was very much indeed an international figure, but still, thanks for the effort for saying and pronouncing his name correctly in it's original Hungarian way as well. Respect, and great fan of the channel.

[@Livender]

I am from Budapest and his secondary school is two blocks from my house. That was an incredible alma mater, three Nobel-laureates studied there: Wigner, Neumann and Harsányi. Everytime I pass the building it gives me chills. Some friends studied there in the early 90's and once took me in to see the building -- well, was I intimidated :) Neumann and Wigner studied with the same maths teacher, Mikola Sándor (family name first, right, prof? :) ). He was an extraordinary teahcer, as you might imagine. The other one who was maybe even more important was Rátz László (often only referred to as "Rátz tanár úr" or Professor Rátz). There is a statue erected in his memory at the joint headquarters of Graphisoft and Microsoft Hungary in the northern part of Budapest. Also, regarding the hydrogen bomb: Einstein's letter to Roosevelt was actually initiated by Wigner (who, as I said, studied at the same school as Neumann + grew up near the end of my street) and Teller. It's crazy to think about it that three Hungarians were very deeply involved in the creation of the most deadly weapon ever made (even if they regretted it greatly and lobbied very heavily for rearmament).

[@stratovation1474]

Initiated by Szilard I thot.

[@DawidUliczny-ro7eo]

Teller was Hungarian and Ulan was Polish. Coincidentally those two nations have tradition of mutual friendship spanning centuries back despite having no land border.

[@somethingsinlife5600]

Professor Brailsford is the professor you want in class...Where you feel bad if you missed something. Where you know it's your liss if you weren't listening.

[@Milosz_Ostrow]

I love the Computerphile segments with Prof. Brailsford for the historical perspective and context he gives the subjects.

[@nullptr.]

This is absolutely amazing, we are blessed to have a professor with such great knowledge available for everyone here on KZbin, thank you Professor Brailsford and Sean.

[@JimGardner]

I could listen to Professor Brailsford for a year and still want more.

[@bastardtubeuser]

We are so lucky to get these videos thanks Computerphile.

[@yuvrajsingh099]

A lot of of people don't know John Von Neumann, when I tell them about him they are shocked to hear his accomplishments. Great Genius.

[@SuperHornedtoad]

The human mind can't pay attention long enough for you to list his his full accomplishments

[@utopialabsvideos9408]

Hey! Listening to professor Brailsford was like watching a documentary or living in that time. Very inspiring and fun stories about these mathematician, with a lot of extras. Thanks again! I hope that Computerphile makes more of these videos telling us how computers became what today we know about. Congratulations!

[@ronswanson3656]

I genuinely love this channel. Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for our benefit.

[@benjaminramsey4695]

Absolutely COMPELLING! I could listen to this man tell stories ALL DAY!

[@terrencecoccoli524]

What an amazing storyteller/historian the Professor is. I really enjoy listening to him, always very interesting.

[@salerio61]

Wow Professor Brailsford that was incredible! Can't wait for part II. The strange thing is, that when I was an undergraduate none of this had come out, and I had to write a 2000 essay on the history of computers (to get through year 1 - no marks awarded). Turing wasn't even mentioned in any of my references, and we had to rely on the US version of events.

[@alex_on_the_web]

The professor pronounces all things Hungarian so effortlessly, I must assume he has some affiliation with the language or the country :)

[@DenesSebestyenSebi]

I don't think so, maybe he's kind of perfectionist about pronouncication. In an other video about the Reverse Polish Notation he also pronounced Łukasiewicz well (according to Polish comments)

[@christophercooper6731]

Maybe a Magyarphile - notice the cube to his left?

[@nickscurvy8635]

He definitely gives me the impression of a person who pays close attention to detail and cares about getting things right.

[@drfill9210]

Haha "boodapesht" that's what I hear when Hungarians say it. Well played professor!

[@leeamraa]

What a joy listing to him. I wish I had him as a teacher for all of my classes from KG to PHD.

[@rikdog5000]

Aaah! I love his passion as he speaks about all of this! It makes me feel more passionate and interested too. Thanks for doing these videos. I appreciate it!

[@supernenechi]

I love how he has a radio in the background. It has such an oldschool good times vibe now. I love it

[@markm4642]

I love your story telling skills professor. It makes anyone get excited about computing.

[@JimGiant]

It's strange how little Von Neumann is brought up, by all rights he should be as famous as Einstein.

[@tomservo5007]

oddly, there are few recordings of Von Neumann ... I think there is only one.

[@jpriddy123]

Same thing with Andrew and Kathleen Booth

[@ythehunter755]

And they didn’t even talk about how he together with Morgenstern revolutionized economics

[@jtorola]

He’s brought up in almost book by his contemporaries who almost all call him “the smartest person who ever lived”.

[@kxkxkxkx]

Einstein was puffed up by the media because he was a Zionist ☝️ most of the really smart ones either didn't care or were against it

[@RoGeorgeRoGeorge]

What a fascinating story! Thank you Professor, thank you Computerfile.

[@guitargod259]

Professor Brailsford is by far my favorite in this channel. He is full of so much useful information. And no I'm not being sarcastic.

[@kentw.england2305]

I have never heard a more complete and concise setup of the problem of 1946 and why Johnny was THE one to tackle it.

[@c99kfm]

Correction: He wasn't 35 when he was offered the IAS professorship. He wasn't 30 either, though he would celebrate his 30th birthday later that year in Princeton.

[@Primo_extracts]

You're enthusiasm, really makes listening to the story enjoyable.

[@walopes]

Great story, remembered me of my Computer Architecture classes. Thanks for sharing it!

[@vamosabv]

Brilliant video! Loved the passion, the knowledge and the content delivery about Von Neumann

[@EliA-mm7ul]

Prof B. The David Attenborough of computer ecosystem.

[@Leroset]

So many brilliant Hungarian mathematicians who were involved in the history of computing. Von Neumann is just one of them, but what a guy he was! Another, John Kemeny, invented BASIC and was the president of my undergraduate institution (Dartmouth). Just one of the many reasons I'm proud to be Magyar! :)

[@juliotampan]

I'm going to comment something that is well aside of my academic formation. Isn't it ironic that the Austro-Hungarian empire compited so hard with the Prussian Empire and betted so hard on the BS school of Vienna when the thrue gem of the empire was the Hungarian school of mathematics?

[@Afreshio]

They were called The Martians by their American peers. A bunch of genius that spoke in a strange language.

[@colbey79]

Charles Simonyi created Microsoft Word and Excel.

[@levansaginashviliskidney8726]

Paul Erdos, Edward Teller, John Von Neumann, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner etc. Extraordinary talent

[@elidrissii]

All Jews though, not ethnic Hungarians.

[@GH-oi2jf]

I’m pleased to see the ABC mentioned here, along with other early computers. One thing I like about Atanasoff was his view on priority. He said "I have always taken the position that there is enough credit for everyone in the invention and development of the electronic computer." That’s the right spirit. Remember people for their individual contributions without arguing about who should be considered the inventor.

[@Yupppi]

Professor Brailsford's brain must be like national library. He drops so much history so fluently and well constructedly. I forget the names of the things I was just talking or thinking about.

[@XXusernameunknownXX]

These are my favorite videos.

[@Mohammed8778]

German Computer-Enthusiast here: This is the first time I ever saw Zuse mentioned. Especially when its also a lot about Turing. Thanks for that ;) He actually is the father of the computer (maybe not computing ;) )

[@almxtr]

What a passion to share knowledge, one more fan now... congratulations professor!

[@thedevminer]

Hello from Germany! Please, Professor Brailsford, keep on making videos about computers.

[@mate8609]

Thanks Professor Brailsford! It's a nice touch to have the cube as another Hungarian reference in the background:P

[@Richardincancale]

Important as the von Neuman architecture has been historically - more Harvard architecture machines are made each year! More than One Billion Microchip Technologies PIC and Atmel AVR chips are sold each year for embedded applications (washing machines, cars...) and have been around since the mid-1970s. Deserve a video too!

[@dimitarzitosanski3105]

Professor Brailsford can do narrating job very well :)

[@GameSmilexD]

Professor Brailsford is one of the best professors I have learned from.

[@ismailali6346]

Almost 1 million subs! I love this channel keep going!

[@SMC247]

Wow. So much knowledge he seems to have on the topic. Super interesting to learn more of these details.

[@ispahan5842]

Most informative and engaging videos on youtube, thank you.

[@GungaLaGunga]

Wow thank you for sharing these stories from history. Astounding.

[@frogdeity]

I love the math and comp sci history videos. They're awesome.

[@KurtGodel432]

John von Neumann actually did his PhD at ETH Zurich. His first degree from Budapest was in chemical engineering and his PhD was in mathematics.

[@Pedritox0953]

Love this kind of story telling professor!! Thanks

[@axiom66]

Brilliant insight on the various types of WWII computers and how Von Neumann shepherded the general purpose computer

[@Edkahmed]

I just said " I Should try to study harder" Suddenly Computerphile uploaded a video , I'm super confused now.

[@miguelpereira9859]

Just watch KZbin videos about complex topics and pretend you are smart like me

[@lennartgimm7454]

Sitting in Göttingen and being reminded of the great minds that came through here is always humbling. It feels like I'm on the pulse of physics/maths here

[@neelmehta9092]

I came here to learn about the architecture of von Neumann for my exams but I stumbled upon a gem that was this video

[@skeliskull]

Im fascinated by the founders of computing. They’re the ones who solved some of the secrets of math & physics. Now a lot of these things are broadly understood but to be the first ones to discover and define how these things could work was a mountainous and extremely complex effort that we sometimes take for granted

[@PrettyBlueThings]

Thank you Professor Brailsford

[@keaman]

Man, these history talks are great!

[@freightuk]

Professor Brailsford, always compelling to view and learn from :)

[@keevee09]

These videos are gold. Thank you.

[@quantummath]

Computerphile is one of my top-three sources of inspiration, Thank you! Greetings from: Sharif University of Technology, Iran, Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Sweden, and now, Hamburg University, Germany.

[@erichobbs4042]

These are great little history lessons.

[@magellanicraincloud]

Aaaa! Video ended too early! I needed another hour of fascinating computing history!

[@GCOSBenbow]

My old maths lecturor was Hungarian and used to talk a whole hell of a lot about von Neumann

[@dude157]

Claude Shannon next !

[@markrayne5382]

The always whimsical and rambunctious Dr Brailsford.

[@akshayaggarwal5925]

Though this video was not particularly on Von Neumann Architecture, this video surely led me to learn more about computer architecture.

[@prototropo]

This video essay of reminiscence, I'll call it, was wonderful. Dr. Brailsford, thank you so very much for an engaging and accurate telling of an era, the core personalities, the institutions, achievements, means and ends of a momentous time. It was an era that defined our own, whether we view it from the angle of mathematics, computing, nationalism, academia, history, the Second World War or the great social ferment that peace permitted--the anti-colonial upheavals, the age and racial, sexual, gender and intellectual movements. It was a time of great men, greater science, great portent and yet greater moment. What a worthy summary!

[@nO_d3N1AL]

I look forward to the follow-up story!

[@satchelfrost6531]

I feel like he's my grandpa, and I'm asking for another bedtime story

[@mentormags]

articulate story telling, thank you, indeed, for an engaging video.

[@ivoryfairchild4596]

Hello Sir. Thank you for your theory we are using it now in Chess Sir. 6.4.1 in Preliminarity,Transivity,and Signaling. My mother taught me Backgammon in turn is apart of my data Sir. And now you are. What a great influence.

[@morezco]

so von Neumann was essentially one of those gods whose death is lamented by every genius, but also he was charismatic af

[@MrCmon113]

Guilherme Moresco The death of those we idealize often hits us hardest. Certainly was the case with my professor recently.

[@bawi2965]

you watching this channel + what you said... could it be that you are studying at the LMU?

[@methanbreather]

nah... others came up with this stuff earlier. But since they were neither in the USA nor England, their ground breaking work is mostly ignored by english speaking academicals.

[@kyrlics6515]

@@MrCmon113 jp

[@istvanmarton940]

@@methanbreather X (doubt)

[@mohammadshahabrafiq]

Could listen to the professor for hours.

[@marcellocapone4925]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@cragnog]

I heard that Von Neumann was impossibly smart and talented

[@ulilulable]

Nice video! Now, do you have a video about the von Neumann architecture as well?

[@Chabam]

Great video! You should a video like this about Edsger W. Dijkstra it would be very interesting

[@beepIL]

I always keep telling people how (At least here in my country) the biggest pitfalls in academia is that people who teach because of their knowledge don't necessarily know how to teach, they are smart, they have the degrees to back up their position, but no talent for speaking and teaching. Those who are very knowledgeable and capable of teaching in an interesting manner are very rare, YOU are one of these people, I wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute of this video, I wish every lecture in every university was presented by people who CAN teach.

[@83vbond]

Yet again my plans for the afternoon were derailed by Prof Brailsford's remarkable stories (he himself fits the bill for the very charismatic very knowledgeable uncle; don't know about rich :) Just resurfaced after spending an hour researching Zuse (didn't know of him before, incredibly), Frieder Nake, and from there a digression into abstract art

[@aleewade4162]

Awesome discussion from Professor Brailsford... as always. It's interesting the concept for which he is most famous, the von Neumann Architecture, was originally put forth by Mauchly and Eckert. Both hated the fact they never got proper credit... but then Mauchly never gave Atanasoff his due credit either. I wonder if the professor ever crossed path Tommy Flowers and, if so, would he talk about him. He seems like one of the interesting and forward thinking characters in early computing. The fact that he was thinking about electronic circuit switching in the mid-30s while the rest of the world was content to innovate using relays attests to his prowess.

[@profdaveb6384]

Yes, I'm guessing that Johnny's "Draft report on EDVAC" must have infuriated Mauchly and Eckert not least because it fouled up the whole question of patents more than somewhat? That being said I gather that the US Patent office in the end revoked a lot of ENIAC patents on the basis that Atanasoff and Berry got there first?

[@millstonebarn]

I had no idea of the connections between Neumann and Hilbert, Godel and Turing. Amazing.

[@satsukynolife4094]

this man has such a soothing voice

[@flyingdarkness]

Nice video, i like it very much. Soon to be 1Mil Subs guys!! Keep up the good work! :D

[@corochena]

I could buy a movie ticket of Professor Brailsford telling a math/computer story

[@silakanveli]

How wonderful story was that!

[@krishacz]

I was gonna learn about the von Neumann machine for my exam but this is way better.

[@colinstu]

Video on the EDVAC! and oh wow.. what a man.

[@spandanmisra4193]

I could listen to ProfDave readout even grocery receipts for hours.

[@Chinookman]

Wow, just wow. I could listen to you all day. I was on a search for a great vpn Neumann biography and stumbled on this video. Anyone have a recommendation?

[@proudsnowtiger]

No mention of RAND's JOHNNIAC computer, named after JvN, apparently rather to the man's displeasure.

[@frankharr9466]

I know it's not the point, but what great curtains! I think you make a strong argument that there are applications where you want to keep intstruction and storage memory very separate.

[@JesusGomezOrtiz]

I feel this needs a conclusion. Waiting for the part 2...

[@kpbendeguz]

Princeton has offered Neumann a job before Einstein and Gödel was there and he's condition was to get Einstein and Gödel invited because "he doesn't want to work at a place where he is the smartest". So even as a superstar in the scientific community he was aware of his limits.