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SIMD Last modified: Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Short for single instruction, multiple data. A type of parallel computing architecture that is classified under Flynn's taxonomy. A single computer instruction perform the same identical action (retrieve, calculate, or store) simultaneously on two or more pieces of data (Charles Belov, 1997). * Typically this consists of many simple processors, each with a local memory in which it keeps the data which it will work on. Each processor simultaneously performs the same instruction on its local data progressing through the instructions in lock-step, with the instructions issued by the controller processor. The processors can communicate with each other in order to perform shifts and other array operations. [* Source: EPCC] See also Flynn's taxonomy.

Introduction to Parallel Computing This presentation covers the basics of parallel computing. Beginning with a brief overview and some concepts and terminology associated with parallel computing, the topics of parallel memory architectures and programming models are then explored. Michael J. Flynn Michael Flynn received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1961. He joined IBM in 1955 and for 10 years worked in the areas of computer organization and design. He was design manager of prototype versions of the IBM 7090 and 7094/II, and later for the System 360 Model 91 Central Processing Unit. SIMDtech Web site SIMDtech is designed to bring together the community of programmers who exploit SIMD microprocessor instructions. Tommesani Programming Methods A widely used classification of parallel systems, due to Michael J. Flynn, is based on the number of simultaneous instruction and data streams seen by the processor during program execution.