This looks very much like a Connection Machine. A red LED would light up when its corresponding processor was active.

No, IIRC, on a Connection Machine, a light blinks when the corresponding CPU is active. A LED which is on or off means the CPU is idle.

I am personally quite convinced that they chose to do it this way because the way you describe it – the obvious way – did not look cool enough.

The connection machine had several modes for the front lights. The one most familiar is "random and pleasing" and the code can be found here: https://trmm.net/CM-2/

Reference: https://thedailywtf.com/articles/Thinking-Machines#comment-1...

Lol. You'll get better results if you stop smelling with your ears