The document discusses using programmable application-specific processors (ASIPs) as accelerators in system-on-chips instead of fixed-function accelerators. ASIPs offer flexibility through programmability while maintaining high performance. The document outlines how to design ASIPs using C-programmable datapaths and compiler tools. It provides examples of ASIP designs for wireless baseband algorithms like WLAN equalization and FFT that achieve performance comparable to hardwired accelerators.