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Minimal Design Principle and Universal Computer (Turing)

Konrad Zuse followed a minimal design principle with the construction of his computers. He tried to build a powerful computing machine with minimal effort and costs. He had no other way because his parents were not rich and he had not much money. For Konrad Zuse, the Z3 was the last machine in a series of trial machines (Z1-Z3) in order to build a machine which was able to solve the mathematical problems of engineers and scientists. Although he was convinced, that his machine could calculate all mathematical problems, he could not prove it. He tried to show this with many examples and chess. In 1941 he said to friends, that his machine can play chess. However, he had the right feeling, that his machine could calculate everything. From 1941 till his death in 1995 he did not know, that his computer Z3 was an universal computer in the sense of Turing. In 1998 Raul Rojas formulated the proof, that the Z3 is an universal computer.  


Slav Petrov 2001-07-02