Jun Xin nodded embarrassedly and said, "There are two things that need to trouble you." ”

"Let's talk about it first!" Professor Potter didn't agree immediately, but planned to listen to Junxin's words first.

"During the Princeton conference, I was very interested in some of the algorithmic problems about computers that you and Professor Durant raised, and then I was very curious about the computer as a computing instrument you mentioned. While I was in Princeton, I heard that the University of Pennsylvania was the birthplace of ENIAC, the world's first electronic computer. The second electronic computer, EDVAC, was also born at the University of Pennsylvania. I had read about Mr. von Neumann at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and one of the "Draft Reports on EDVAC" made me very curious about the computer as a computing instrument, so I wanted to ask the professor if I could visit the instrument at that time. And can I see some of the references? ”

Junxin was a little apprehensive, but he believed that there should be no problem with it. It's not that China doesn't have computers, on the contrary, China's supercomputers can also be ranked among the best in the world since their research, so they don't worry about Professor Porter rejecting him in the name of state secrets.

Sure enough, Professor Potter readily agreed to Junxin's request, which was not very excessive. Today's computer technology has advanced to the fourth generation of computers. Not long ago, on August 12, 1981, IBM developed the world's most advanced computer. Junxin wants to visit the first generation of electronic computers, the value of which is completely unequal, and there is no possibility of leaking secrets.

However, Professor Potter also made it clear that it was not a problem to visit the first generation of electronic computers, but the technology of the first generation of electronic computers and some of the ideas of the creators of the time may have to wait for a while before they can be given to themselves. Because the originals of these documents have been stored in the precious documents in the library, if you want to bring them up, even he, the professor, needs to communicate with the library staff in advance.

Junxin was not in a hurry, he knew that he would definitely be able to get the information on the computer. However, unlike Professor Porter, he studied computers from the perspective of a scientist, so what he wanted to know most was how the concept of computers went from an idea to the final process, although there are more detailed records in the era of the Internet Big Bang, but in comparison, Junxin wants to know more about the initial idea of the group of staff when designing computers, because that is more valuable to Junxin.

Scientists are more focused on methods, and only engineers are more focused on applications. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and Junxin never makes any evaluation of this.

The development of computers has indeed entered the fourth generation period, as Professor Porter thought. The use of large-scale integrated circuits (LS1 and VLS1), as well as the emergence of database management systems, network management systems, and object-oriented languages in software, have led to the rapid development of computers.

This is really important for engineers, because engineers care about technology follow-up and innovation. What they strive for is the pursuit of the most advanced and best technology. But scientists are sometimes different, they pay more attention to the most fundamental foundation at the beginning, they try to figure out the principle of technology, the principle of experimentation and other things, as for the innovation of technology they are not very concerned very much. Only when more advanced technology is needed will they pursue technological innovation.

Junxin is not a scientist in the traditional sense, he still has a great interest in technological innovation. But at the end of the day, he's still a traditional scientist, so a lot of the time, he's still pursuing things in terms of principles.

Truth be told, people living in the Big Bang era were never short of technology that was not very secretive but extremely useful. As a high-end theoretical physicist, those public and semi-public things on the Internet can naturally be easily obtained, so Junxin is not very unfamiliar with the update of computers, on the contrary, he knows better than all the people in this world. So he didn't need the cutting-edge secrecy in Professor Potter's eyes, on the contrary, he was most interested in the most basic things.

To put it simply, Junxin needs the idea of electronic computers, not the so-called top technology.

"Thank you, Professor Potter!" Junxin is still very grateful and said.

Professor Potter waved his hand and said, "Nothing, it's not something to be kept secret, and there's nothing remarkable about taking you to see it." But I hope that you will be the next von Neumann and make creative achievements in the field of computers. ”

Although the computer was built by the University of Pennsylvania, many people only see the University of Pennsylvania as the place where the computer was built, and never see the University of Pennsylvania as the inventor. One of the more accepted theories in the scientific community is that the electronic computer was created by von Neumann. This is also an eternal pain in the face of the University of Pennsylvania.

So Junxin didn't answer. He didn't know what Professor Potter meant by that. Both he and von Neumann are from Princeton, and both have shown an interest in computers. Junxin didn't know if this would remind Professor Potter of something bad.

"Is there anything else I need to do for you?" Seeing that Junxin's request was not a confidential matter, Professor Potter also asked with relief.

"There's another private matter that needs the professor's help!" Junxin nodded and said.

"Oh? Let's talk about it! ”

"That's right, there is another elder at the University of Pennsylvania that I respect more, he was the original dean of our Mizuki University College of Engineering, and later came to teach at the University of Pennsylvania, and has retired, and ......"

Before Junxin could continue, Professor Potter already knew, shook his head and said, "You're talking about Mr. Gu Yuxiu, right?" ”

Seeing Junxin nodding, Professor Potter continued: "I used to be colleagues with Mr. Gu, and his achievements in electrical engineering are admirable. Mr. Gu lives in the residential area provided by the school, if you are not in a hurry, I can take you there tomorrow morning. If you're in a hurry, I'll let my graduate student take you there, what do you think? ”

Jun Xin shook his head and said, "It's getting late, let's go visit his old man tomorrow!" ”

"Good!"