Hybrid-WSI: a massively parallel computing technology?

It is argued that although it is not yet clear which of the two wafer scale integration (WSI) forms, monolithic or hybrid, will gain the lead to an enabling technology for second-generation massively parallel computers (MPCs), there are noticeably more backers for hybrid-WSI. The application requirements, implementation problems, and engineering issues of MPCs are discussed. In particular, the associative string processor (ASP) modules, which comprise building blocks for second-generation MPC configurations, are described. The progress reported in developing ASP modules is quantitatively extrapolated to other MPC implementations