>no one challenged the status of the stored program as the defining feature of the modern digital electronic computer”, but “we struggle when required to articulate its significance in simple terms"
Are we? Then it's probably because we're being dishonest about using it to keep score of which machine was 'first'. Like the article says : 'first computer', 'first electronic computer', 'first electronic stored program computer'. Throw a handful of 'general purpose' in there and you've got a spectrum of candidates from the old astronomy tools through the difference engine through the Z3 to the Mark I. Honestly, the only time I ever hear or read anyone say 'first stored program...' is as a presage to claiming that the MkI was first so ra ra, we beat the yanks.
>no one challenged the status of the stored program as the defining feature of the modern digital electronic computer”, but “we struggle when required to articulate its significance in simple terms"
Are we? Then it's probably because we're being dishonest about using it to keep score of which machine was 'first'. Like the article says : 'first computer', 'first electronic computer', 'first electronic stored program computer'. Throw a handful of 'general purpose' in there and you've got a spectrum of candidates from the old astronomy tools through the difference engine through the Z3 to the Mark I. Honestly, the only time I ever hear or read anyone say 'first stored program...' is as a presage to claiming that the MkI was first so ra ra, we beat the yanks.