A modular massively parallel computing (Modular-MPC) philosophy to image-related processing is discussed in this paper The approach is based on application-specific configurations of generic fine-grain Single Instruction stream operating on Multiple Data (SIMD) streams massively parallel computing modules to achieve high performance and maximal flexibility and programmability while remaining cost-effective. The need for a software architecture to allow programming such systems is highlighted and the implementations on current Modular-MPC systems are described. The experience with ASTRA, a Modular-MPC testbed system, in image related application development and system performance has led to a technology road-map using VLSI, MCM, and monolithic WSI technologies aiming at 'future proofing' of the Modular-MPC concept and systems achieving T (10/sup 12/) operations per second performance. This experience and progress are discussed together with the implementation of three image-related processing applications.

Associative processing architectures as candidates for second-generation massive parallel computers (MPCs) are discussed. The authors outline the principle of operation of associative processors, and briefly review their development. They explore the associative string processor (ASP) architecture as a representative case study in the development of a second-generation MPC.>