Digital signal processors (DSPs) are specialized microprocessors designed to process digital signals like audio, video, and communications more efficiently than general-purpose microprocessors. DSPs perform mathematical calculations very rapidly and with predictable execution times. They are commonly used in applications like cellular phones, modems, digital cameras, and high-definition televisions to process digital signals in real-time. The first DSPs were developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and newer generations have incorporated more specialized instructions and parallel processing capabilities to accelerate complex signal processing tasks.