Wang Xuexin first asked the hardware team to cooperate with Qiong Yi and others to develop a relay computer.
Wang Xuexin said to Joan: "Qiong, I'm sending some newcomers to learn 'Christopher' from you. I hope you can teach them more!"
Joan understands this.
The Eighth Route Army's relay computers were ahead of the sun never setting, and they exchanged technology for parts. In other words, it was enough to give out the technology, and there was no obligation to send the top scientists to cooperate with the sun never sets.
On the other hand, although the Eighth Route Army had the technology of relay computers, they lacked the practical foundation of mechanical computers. It seemed reasonable to send new people to participate in this project.
"Don't worry!" Qiong glanced at Hardware and others and replied: "I think we will cooperate happily!"
Wang Xuexin was actually not worried that Qiong would suspect anything.
On the one hand, things like "Christopher" or even relay computers are actually not complicated. Mathematicians will know what they are doing if they know binary arithmetic, and hardware and other people's grasp of their physical structures is not a problem... In physics, if
If there is any difficulty, it is that the hardware does not understand the complicated wiring of each unit.
But if mathematicians understand these wiring rules, which are essentially binary carry rules, it will not be difficult.
Another is that Wang Xuexin provided several hours of training to two mathematicians.
The training content is mainly binary.
Binary arithmetic is commonplace in modern times. Anyone who has gone to college or studied computer basics will know this stuff.
But in this period before computers were popular, especially in China, many people, including mathematicians, had never heard of binary... even though the invention of binary has been hundreds of years old.
This is due to the fact that binary is of little use in life and practice.
If computers were not used on a large scale in modern times, I am afraid that binary would still have no future.
Therefore, when Wang Xuexin talked about binary with two mathematical talents, they all looked at Wang Xuexin doubtfully and said: "Captain, although this is not difficult, does it have anything to do with the project we want to study?"
Binary is indeed not difficult, especially for these mathematicians.
The difficulty lies in combining these things with reality and innovating to invent a computer so that the machine can do this kind of calculation.
Wang Xuexin couldn't tell them this because it was a matter of practice.
Wang Xuexin only told them: "You will know its use by then!"
It is said that when the two people saw "Christopher", a machine that uses binary to perform calculations and even decodes, they were so shocked that they couldn't speak for a long time. They couldn't believe that there was such a machine in the world.
Seeing their looks, Qiong just said to them: "Your comrade leader has done a good job in keeping secrets!"
"What do you mean?" The two mathematicians were confused.
"This is no secret to you Eighth Route Army!" Qiong replied: "And you have more advanced ones!"
This once again shocked the two mathematicians beyond measure.
Does the Eighth Route Army also have this kind of machine?
More advanced?
How is that possible!
But think about it, two mathematicians think this is entirely possible. Doesn’t Wang Xuexin, for example, know about it?
The reason why they don't know is probably because it is a confidential military project.
Thinking of this, mathematicians are both proud and ashamed.
What I am proud of is that China can actually stay ahead of the sun, and it is still in the field of scientific innovation, which has never happened before.
What is shameful is that for a long time, they thought that they were at the top in the field of domestic mathematics, even if they were not at the top, they were still at the forefront. Now it seems... this idea is really ridiculous.
However, what shocked the two mathematicians even more was what came next.
Two mathematicians, one named Ban Haolin and the other named Chen Jiefeng, are both middle-aged and have taught at well-known universities in China, and are quite prestigious in the Chinese mathematics community.
After they and Joan invested in the research and development of relay computers, it felt like they had opened up a new field and opened the door to a new world... In fact, this is a new world, and it will change the world in the future.
This made the two of them very excited, but at the same time they felt insignificant and backward.
On this day, Joan and they were discussing how many relays a set of relays needed... This determines the scope of computer operations.
Joan thought 32 two-mathematicians should be used but advocated 16.
"32 bits can accomplish more tasks!" Joan said: "The size of the relay is much smaller than that of 'Christopher', and the power is also smaller, especially the speed. If you can't count the larger number, the increase in speed is not
It means so much!”
"Although everything you said is right, Qiong!" Ban Haolin objected: "You should know that the risk of relay work is very high. 32-bit means that we need at least twice as many parts, and the risk and maintenance difficulty are also doubled.
!”
This is determined by the working characteristics of the relay. As long as one relay fails, the entire machine will not be able to operate normally, so the more parts, the greater the risk.
"But it's still worth a try!" Joan insisted: "Only 32-bit can meet most of the computing needs!"
"But 'Christopher' comes in groups of 16!" Chen Jiefeng expressed puzzlement.
“That’s how we knew it wasn’t enough!” said Joan, “far from it!”
At this time, Wang Xuexin strolled into the air-raid shelter. Hearing their quarrel, he couldn't help but move forward in confusion.
Qiong was relieved as if she had found a savior, and called to Wang Xuexin: "Comrade leader, you came just in time, I want to hear your opinion!"
Wang Xuexin was still nervous at first, because he would not be able to understand the problems discussed by mathematicians even if they were a little more profound... What he was most afraid of when he was in college was mathematics.
But since he had already hit the muzzle of the gun and could not run away, Wang Xuexin could only bite the bullet and attack.
After listening to both sides' explanations, Wang Xuexin basically understood.
This is actually because the sun never sets and China's needs for computers are different.
The Sun Never Sets R&D computer has larger data to process, so a computer with more bits and a wider calculation range is needed.
As for China, at least so far, the role of computers is to decode.
For China, whose industry has not yet developed greatly, 16-bit computing is enough, even if Wang Xuexin wants to move it to missiles in the future.
"If we need to improve the accuracy of calculations!" Joan continued to persuade: "Of course we must expand to 32 bits, otherwise there will be a lot of trouble!"
"Arithmetic accuracy?" Wang Xuexin was stunned, and then asked: "Qiong, have you ever heard of floating point arithmetic?"
"Floating point arithmetic?" Qiong was confused: "What is that?"