The paper describes a machine called Norman, the initial member of a family called COBWEB. COBWEB is intended to be a family of fifth generation architectures which support the parallel evaluation of combinatory programs.

Contained in the paper is a collection of ideas for a fifth generation architecture and its implementation using wafer scale integration. The technology dependencies on wafer scale fabrication, compilation, interprocessor communications, and parallel system garbage collection are significant and, perhaps, unnecessary. No effort is made in the paper to consider alternative implementation strategies or their consequences.

As an abstract of potential research ideas or topics, the paper is interesting. As a paper presenting new results or conclusions, it is disappointing.