  This paper describes a roadmap for the development of the "SP Machine", based
on the "SP Theory of Intelligence" and its realisation in the "SP Computer
Model". The SP Machine will be developed initially as a software virtual
machine with high levels of parallel processing, hosted on a high-performance
computer. The system should help users visualise knowledge structures and
processing. Research is needed into how the system may discover low-level
features in speech and in images. Strengths of the SP System in the processing
of natural language may be augmented, in conjunction with the further
development of the SP System's strengths in unsupervised learning. Strengths of
the SP System in pattern recognition may be developed for computer vision. Work
is needed on the representation of numbers and the performance of arithmetic
processes. A computer model is needed of "SP-Neural", the version of the SP
Theory expressed in terms of neurons and their inter-connections. The SP
Machine has potential in many areas of application, several of which may be
realised on short-to-medium timescales.
