Von Nuemann's Intellectual and Career Acompishments
This journal review about John von Neumann’s, “Theory of Games and Economic Behavior” written with Oskar Morgenstern, dives further into recognizing John von Neumann’s contribution within mathematical logic and even automata theory, which has influenced machine and artificial intelligence’s learning. His approach to blending precise principles of math within applications of the real world has set an impression of Neumann within multiple fields.
John von Neumann and Dr. Sawyer talk about why they needed to do another test of the atomic bomb. They wanted better data on the atomic bomb because they didn’t think that the data, they had from the actual use on Japan was good enough. The Dean of the University of Rochester voices his views against the further testing of the atomic bomb.
This document from the New York Times, recognizes John von Neumann’s crucial role in being a developer of high-speed computing machines that put him as the foremost leader within the field during his time. His contributions to the stored program concept were detailed as being revolutionary to modern computing. All future computer designs were stated to be influenced by his work at the Institute for Advanced Study, which was where the groundbreaking advancements in machine architecture originated from.
This document from the Los Angeles Times, emphasizes John von Neumann’s leadership in developing high-speed computers. His role was emphasized by his critical involvement in advancing computer architecture. His development of the concept, the stored-program computer, was highlighted for improving computational efficiency significantly. His reputation as a pioneer in computer technology was cemented by his work which has set the foundation for modern computers.
They talk about von Neumann being an advisor to the scientific team that was developing long range ballistic missiles. They mention that the building of the different pieces for the missiles is being done by many different contractors and that von Neumann is the chief scientific advisor for about 100 scientists.
John Von Neumann was honored by President Eisenhower with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States; the recipients of the Medal of Freedom are chosen by the president, who presents the award to exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States national security, World peace, or other public initiatives.
President Eisenhower's citation for the award praised Dr. Von Neumann for significantly contributing to the United States "armament program." This suggests an admiration of Von Neumann by President Eisenhower for the Doctor's contributions to the program during World War Two and a respect for Von Neumann's contributions by government officials.
Note: President Eisenhower also recommended Von Neumann to the Atomic Energy Commission around a year earlier.
They also talk about von Neumann’s committee for the building of the missile was predicting that the problems they had were theoretically possible to solve. His team predicted that the costs of the development would be much higher than the Manhattan Project.
This American Mathematical Society article dives into John von Neumann’s revolutionary contributions to game theory and economic analysis. Neumann’s minimax theorem was incorporated into the foundation of strategic decision making, economics, military strategy and political science due to it being a decision rule that helps to minimize the worst-case potential loss.