Computer Science Fundamentals: Von Neumann to Memory

Introduction

Too often the mechanical foundations of computing are taken for granted. The technology has been around long enough that many people overlook the great capabilities that computers and computing technology have afforded modern society. The fundamental characteristics of any successful endeavor should be investigated to help identify patterns, produce learning, and gather information.

The purpose of this essay is to identify and explain some of the fundamental concepts in the framework of computer architecture. The essay discusses the Von Neumann architecture and its contribution to computer science, along with the many ideas this model has spawned. It then addresses the importance of Boolean operations and the role this symbolic language plays in the logical processes of computing. Finally, the essay examines the concepts and fundamentals behind the various types of memory and storage that computer architecture requires to produce tangible results.

Von Neumann Architecture

According to Riley (1987), the Von Neumann architecture of computer systems is based on a compilation of four individual parts. Riley wrote: "Von Neumann begins his 'Preliminary Discussion' with a broad description of the general-purpose computing machine containing four main 'organs.' These are identified as relating to arithmetic, memory, control, and connection with the human operator. In other words, the arithmetic logic unit, the control unit, the memory, and the input-output devices that we see in the classical model of what a computer 'looks like.'" Each one of these elements holds a special place in a Von Neumann architecture that has blossomed into today's computing environment.

The four organs or elements are still vital components of any computing architecture today. These are the four basic functions of all computing systems and resonate in other biological systems as well. Von Neumann's architecture reflects larger principles found in nature that appear to have been reapplied in a technological or material fashion — which may be why computers integrate so effectively with human users.

Each of the four fundamentals carries certain qualities that help define this type of architecture. The memory organ is idealized to have a dual function: one to hold data and another to process it, much like the human brain. The control unit is a managing component that moves data to the necessary place at the necessary time. The input-output mechanism resembles the human body in its need to both take in and give out information to sustain itself. The arithmetic logic unit provides the mathematical approach necessary for logical processing within the system.

What is most remarkable is that these concepts were formed nearly 80 years ago. The evolution of the Von Neumann architecture has exposed its limitations and led to further discovery in computer science; however, it is the principles behind the architecture that have stood the test of time. Myers (1987) agreed: "Any discussion of computer architectures, of how computers and computer systems are organized, designed, and implemented, inevitably makes reference to the 'von Neumann architecture' as a basis for comparison. And of course this is so, since virtually every electronic computer ever built has been rooted in this architecture."

System Bus

The system bus is the pathway architecture through which the components of a computer system communicate with each other. The CPU sits at one end of the bus and the memory at the other. The system bus is measured in speed, and a greater number of pathways provides the most responsive reactions from the computer system.

The system bus itself carries three different types of information: address, data, and control. These three forms of data provide a map of the pathways that information must travel within the computer system. The address information indicates where the data is located, the data itself is the pertinent information being transmitted, and the control governs the flow of this information — functioning much like a volume knob on a stereo.

Conclusion

Memory and storage work together to form a system that is at the basis of modern-day computing. Neither item by itself is much good without the incorporation of the other's qualities. Every computer must have both components to have any real value and become a viable tool for human use, contributing to growth and progress in new and meaningful ways.

References

Goldstine, H. H., & von Neumann, J. On the principles of large scale computing machines. In Taub, A. H. (Ed.), John von Neumann Collected Works (Vol. V, pp. 1–32). The Macmillan Co.

Himowitz, M. (2001, October 29). Don't mix up PC memory, disk storage. The Baltimore Sun.

MIT Libraries. (n.d.). Boolean operators. Retrieved January 28, 2014, from

Myers, G. J. (1987). [Commentary on Von Neumann architecture]. Cited in Riley, H. (1987).

Riley, H. (1987). The Von Neumann architecture of computer systems. California State Polytechnic University.