Abstract: A computer processor is described capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of programs. It accomplishes this by utilizing the next instruction select elements of a processor to select the next instruction for one program, while the data processing elements of the processor are executing an instruction of another program. The processor includes in addition to the next instruction select and data processing elements normally found in a microprocessor, additional program dependent elements for each of the plurality of programs to be processed. That is, it includes for each of the programs to be processed, a program memory allocation, a program address register, and the non-shared data storage registers, such as accumulators.