Abstract: A parallel processor is disclosed which combines the advantages of an array of bit-serial processors and an array of word-oriented processors. Further, the invention provides for ready communication between data organized in bit-serial fashion and that organized in parallel. The processor comprises a plurality of word-oriented processors, at least one transposer associated with each processor, said transposer having n bit-serial inputs and m bit parallel outputs and a bit-serial processor associated with each bit-serial input of the transposer. The parallel processor further comprises a memory for each bit-serial processor and a data bus interconnecting the memory, the bit-serial processors and the bit-serial inputs of the transposer. The transposer converts serial inputs to parallel, word organized outputs which are provided as inputs to the word-oriented processors.