4 ms·
One thing that I think a lot of introductions are missing is an extremely simple first model of a Von Neumann style computer. I teach the undergrad computer sy
by recursivedoubts 2y ago
One thing that I think a lot of introductions are missing is an extremely simple first model of a Von Neumann style computer. I teach the undergrad computer systems class and two models I have found extremely useful are:
- But How Do It Know/Scott CPU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYAtkbHvuQ&list=PLYE0XunAbwfDvfabOlNWLViRcMI54M6CR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYAtkbHvuQ&list=PLYE0XunAbw...)
- The Little Man Computer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AWN_ntHfPk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AWN_ntHfPk)
Especially these days, where the computer is more and more abstract from students experience, i think these tangible, visual tools are important for them to get a feel for what's going on at the lowest level of computation (at least in some sense)
- VonNaturAustre 2y agoI like this videos!
- manithree 2y agoI thought CARDIAC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CARDboard_Illustrative_Aid_to_Computation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CARDboard_Illustrative_Aid_to_...) was pretty cool when I was in high school. I still have a couple of them in a box somewhere.
- grues-dinner 2y ago> High level languages have never been developed for CARDIAC as they would defeat one of the purposes of the device: to introduce concepts of assembly language programming. That might be the first time that's ever stopped people.
- philomath_mn 2y agoIs there a commercially available version of this? Or a very simple mechanism / kit with a similar approach?
- rramadass 2y agoYou should also checkout Inside the Machine: An Illustrated Introduction to Microprocessors and Computer Architecture by Jon Stokes for a more real world introduction. - https://archive.org/details/inside-the-machine-an-illustrated-introduction-to-microprocessors-and-computer-architecture-pdfdrive https://archive.org/details/inside-the-machine-an-illustrate...
- trash_cat 2y ago- But How Do It Know - Is an excellent book. I came quite far in re-creating the CPU using some logic game simulators. Highly recommend.