A laboratory containing a flexible configuration of parallel processors for use in an upper level seminar in parallel processing is being established. The laboratory explores parallel algorithms and their relation to various connection topologies. Transputer systems are used because they lend themselves to empirical studies of the speedup of parallel algorithms under varying conditions and are easily configured into a variety of different topologies. The equipment initially is used in an upper level seminar. The algorithms to be explored in the seminar are chosen with care, so that experience gained in the seminar can translate into useful units of study in parallel algorithms in most of the computer science courses in subsequent years.
