There is some new computer architecture stuff being done. It is interesting that the interrupt response time is as slow on today's fast desktop processors as it was on 1Mhz 6502's. Caching and context switches are expensive.
Embedded processors are interesting. Why are x86s running at
3,000,000,000 hz and the 8051 is still running at 1Mip (12Mhz)? Besides the fact that sometimes that is good enough, there are some new embedded cpu technologies being implemented. For instance, I think it is Xtensa processor that implements a pure move machine and is novel and interesting.I am particularly interested in the Ubicom machines. They have an "interesting" marketing plan to hide themselves from anyone that will not promise 100K unit sales, but their technology is fascinating. I personally am most interested in the single chip 2022 processor which is a 120 Mhz, 120 MIP super PIC programmable in GNU C, but very fast and different. Recently they have introduced the 250 Mhz, 250 MIP 3023 processor which implements on-chip 8 hardware threads. It can hide pipeline delays by substituting other threads, the same as the "big" chips, but without the overheads/delays introduced by today's caches and MMUs etc. The 3023 can dedicate a thread to watching a particular I/O pin or device, which makes context switches immediate. These are not intended to be desk top machines, but in the more conservative embedded space the implementations are unique.
I am not affiliated with Ubicom and I am far from expert on this new chip, but if you want to get an architectural description (at least a datasheet) for either the 2022 or 3023 processor, you can get it at:
Regards, Steve