ABSTRACT
The title of this chapter should not be Von Neumann and computers, but Von Neumann and the Von Neumann machine. Von Neumann may be famous for many things but humility was not one of them. Yet no one had anything bad to say about ‘good time’ Johnny Von Neumann; he just was too likeable. He gave massive parties and loved women, fast cars, jokes, noise, Mexican food, fine wine, and, most of all, mathematics. ‘Unbelievable’, said one of Von Neumann’s old friends, ‘He knew how to have a good time. His parties were once if not twice a week at 26 Wetcott Road. Waiters came around with drinks all night long. Dancing and loud laughter. With Von Neumann at the centre of it all, he was a fantastically witty man.’ Johnny von Neumann (1903–1957) https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315069555/5d5201a7-70ac-4d14-a96d-80b2cf916e2e/content/fig0125.jpg"/>
