Abstract: An active memory 14 is provided which includes a data memory 20 including rows and columns of storage locations for holding data and computational results. A broadcast memory 22 includes rows and columns of storage locations for holding control instructions. Computing circuitry 26 is provided which is operable to perform a first computational operation using first and second words of data retrieved from the data memory 20 and perform a second computational operation using a result from the first operation and a result from a previous operation. Control circuitry 24 is operable in response to control instructions received from broadcast memory 22 to control the transfer of the first and second words of data from the data memory 20 to said computing circuitry 26 and the performance of the first and second operations.