Page:VN First Draft Report EDVAC Moore Sch 1945.pdf/10

 above. The results are numerical data; they are a specified part of the numerical material produced by the device in the process of carrying out the instructions referred to above.

1.3 It is worth noting, however, that the device will in general produce essentially more numerical material (in order to reach the results) than the (final) results mentioned. Thus only a fraction of its numerical output will have to be recorded as indicated in 1.2, the remainder will only circulate in the interior of the device, and never be recorded for human sensing. This point will receive closer consideration subsequently, in particular in

1.4 The remarks of 1.2 on the desired automatic functioning of the device must, of course, assume that it functions faultlessly. Malfunctioning of any device has, however, always a finite probability — and for a complicated device and a long sequence of operations it may not be possible to keep this probability negligible. Any error may vitiate the entire output of the device. For the recognition and correction of such malfunctions intelligent human intervention will in general be necessary.

However, it may be possible to avoid even these phenomena to some extent. The device may recognize the most frequent malfunctions automatically, indicate their presence and location by externally visible signs, and then stop. Under certain conditions it might even carry out the necessary correction automatically and continue (cf.