1. A parallel data transfer network for the transfer of data controlled by a serial communication network to effect direct point to point communication between processing nodes arranged in an n-dimensional array, independent of physical or logical location of the processing nodes within the array, said parallel data transfer network comprising: (a) a plurality of processing nodes, each adapted for processing, sending and receiving data and commands; one of said nodes acting as a master node and at least one of said nodes acting as a slave node; each processing node further comprising a transputer connected to (i) at least one serial link for serial transmission of commands to and from the processing node, (ii) at least one memory for retaining data being transferred to and from the processing node, and (iii) a switch connecting the at least one memory, through at least one parallel data bus, to a hardware parallel channel for transmission of data to and from the processing node; (b) a plurality of serial links connecting at least two of said processing nodes for the serial transmission of commands between said at least two processing nodes; (c) a parallel hardware channel connected to said processing nodes by a plurality of parallel data buses for the transmission of data between said processing nodes in response to the commands serially transmitted over the serial links; and (d) a plurality of parallel data buses, each parallel data bus connecting one of said processing nodes to the parallel hardware channel.