Observations on high-performance machines

The high speed computer area seems to be dominated by a continued reduction in the price of computer switching circuits and the approach of these circuits to speeds at which the velocity of light becomes an important factor. Barring some unforeseen dramatic change in technology, the outlook for increased computational speed in the classical sequential machine organization becomes increasingly grim. Simultaneity, or parallelism, therefore, becomes more and more essential if computer performance is to continue to increase.