One instruction set computer facts for kids

Imagine a computer that can do everything with just ONE basic command! That's what a One Instruction Set Computer (or OISC) is. It's a special kind of abstract computer that only needs one simple instruction to work. Unlike most computers that understand many different commands, an OISC is designed to be super simple.

OISCs are often used in schools and universities to help students understand how computers really work. They show that even with just one command, you can still build a fully working computer!

What is a One Instruction Computer?

A One Instruction Set Computer (OISC) is a computer that uses only one type of command. This is very different from regular computers. Regular computers have many different commands, like "add," "subtract," or "move data." An OISC does all its tasks using just one instruction.

How Does One Instruction Work?

You might wonder how a computer can do anything with just one command. The trick is that this single instruction is very powerful. It can do a basic action, and by repeating it many times, or by changing what it acts on, the computer can perform complex tasks.

For example, a common OISC instruction is "Subtract and Branch if Less Than or Equal to Zero" (SBN). This one command can:

• Subtract one number from another.
• Check if the result is zero or less.
• Jump to a different part of the program if it is.

With just this one instruction, you can build all the basic math operations and logic that a computer needs!

The Ultimate RISC (URISC)

The Ultimate RISC (URISC) is a famous example of a single-instruction computer. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, created the URISC. They gave it this name because it's the most extreme example of a Reduced instruction set computer (RISC).

Why Study URISC?

The URISC was designed to show how a complete computer could be described in just a few pages. It helps students and researchers understand the basic building blocks of computers. It proves that you don't need a lot of complex instructions to make a powerful machine.

• The University of Waterloo researchers published their work on URISC in 1988.
• Other universities, like the University of Iowa, have also explored similar ideas.

Images for kids

• 

  Cryptoleq processor made at NYU Abu Dhabi