1. A blackboard processing system, comprising: a plurality of knowledge source processors that are configured for parallel processing of computational tasks, so that while one knowledge source processor carries out one computational task, another knowledge source processor carries out another computational task; a blackboard control unit, physically separate and distinct from said plurality of knowledge source processors, coupled in communication with said plurality of knowledge source processors, said blackboard control unit including a plurality of functional hardware modules, each of said functional hardware modules including a central processing unit, an electronic memory and a communication interface, said plurality of functional hardware modules including: database means, coupled in communication with the knowledge source processors, for storing and retrieving data received from the knowledge source processors; communication means, coupled in communication with the knowledge source processors and to the database means, for conveying data to and from specific knowledge source processors and to and from the database means, and for transmitting instructions to the knowledge source processors; trigger means, coupled in communication with the database means and responsive to data presented to and stored by the database means, for producing a trigger signal upon the occurrence of a predefined condition indicated by that data; and scheduler means, coupled in communication with the knowledge source processors through the communication means and connected to the trigger means to receive the trigger signal produced by the trigger means, for transmitting the instructions through the communication means to the knowledge source processors, the instructions causing a selected knowledge source processor to carry out a specific computational task.