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computer is a subset of a machine | 756 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
computer is a subset of a machine
Authored by: mcinsand on Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 03:25 PM EDT
What makes a computer a computer is the ability to handle sets of programmed
instructions. The ability to accept, process, and deliver information according
to a program is what makes a computer a unique type of machine. To reword, the
ability to repurpose with a different computer is one aspect that defines the
device, not the program.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Does Programming a Computer Make A New Machine?~By PolR
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 08:23 PM EDT
The general-purpose computer is a *machine* whose function is to execute *any
possible program that can be written for it*.

Subject only to resource limitations (running out of time or memory) it can
perform any possible calculation, execute any possible algorithm, perform any
manipulation of bits.

There are truly only three limiting factors: size of memory, time you're willing
to wait, and the human ingenuity required to correctly express to the machine
what you want it to do (i.e. to write the desired program for it).

Every CPU manufactured, has an inherent capability to compute anything. Feeding
in *inputs* telling it what we want it to compute, does not somehow "make a
new machine". The very idea is ludicrous, and thats why it leads to such
ludicrous rulings in court cases.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

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