SAM-I: A prototype machine for dynamic, array-oriented programming languages
Richard F. Hobson, J. D. Hoskin, J.L. Simmons, R. W. Spilsbury · IEE Proceedings E Computers and Digital Techniques · 1992
The paper describes a distributed-function machine prototype for the indirect interpretation of array-oriented high-level language programs. The architecture was derived through simulation studies, seeded by Flynn and Hoevel's work with directly executable language techniques, and by Johnston's contour model. The SAM-I prototype demonstrates that the interpretation overhead of array-oriented high-level languages with dynamically typed data can be dramatically reduced. The prototype is based on a personal computer augmented by a custom chip set embedded processor. A number of novel VLSI systems concepts are described.