ABSTRACT
A Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) machine provides a general purpose set of instructions to operate on arrays, namely, vectors. As an example, one add vector instruction can add two arrays and store the result in a third array. As a vector means an array in programming, the terms vector processor, array processor, and SIMD machine are all synonymous. A SIMD or vector machine may have its data stream transmitted in serial or in parallel. One can argue that the market of vector machines is never good for two reasons. First, if the vector instruction is frequently used, it can be implemented on a superscalar machine as an enhancement. Second, many processors can be interconnected, so a cluster of machines can do team work, as introduced next. In a broad sense, the multiple instruction multiple data class consists of all the multiple-processor machines, namely the multistation systems, multiprocessing systems, and computer networks.
