Computer's Special Issue September 2016 Examines "Next-Generation Computing Paradigms"

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., 05 October 2016—"Emerging Computing Paradigms," the September 2016 issue of Computer, IEEE Computer Society's flagship publication, explores the principles of and potential for next-generation computing paradigms and examines their current and future prospects.

"As demands on computing, storage, and communication continue to escalate, the fundamental principles and assumptions that have shaped current conventional computing require revolutionary rethinking. The journey to redefine computing and to search for next-generation computing paradigms has begun and research and industry are exploring radical new computing paradigm," according to San Murugesan of BRITE Professional Services and Western Sydney University, co-guest editor of this issue along with Bob Colwell of R&E Colwell & Associates. "Understanding, mastering, and applying these kinds of emerging, innovative approaches will empower us to chart the future course of computing," Murugesan added.

The five feature articles in Computer's September 2016 issue explore quantum computing, molecular computing, nature-inspired algorithms, and synergistic human–machine interaction through cortically coupled computing. These approaches help to address current and future computing challenges through innovation. In addition, two experts offer their insights on next-generation computing and how quantum computing will impact information security.  To help readers quickly gain a better understanding of some of these new paradigms, a video album is available with this issue.

The guest editor’s introduction begins, "Faced with challenging new applications for computing, we must pursue radical new paradigms. Through quantum computing, biologically inspired computing, and nanocomputing, we can explore novel ways to transform life for the benefit of society."  Read the entire introduction here.

Computer's September 2016 special issue explores the principles and potential for some of these paradigms and examines their current status and future prospects, and features articles by top researchers, including:

• "The Quantum Future of Computation" – Krysta M. Svore and Matthais Troyer describe the principles of quantum bits, gates, and algorithms.
• "The Path to Scalable Distributed Quantum Computing" – Rodney Van Meter and Simon J. Devitt present architectural models for large-scale quantum computation.
• "Embodied Molecular Computation: Potential and Challenges" – Victoria Coleman describes a type of computer in which living cells can be "programmed" by biological modification to perform computational tasks.
• "From Swarm Intelligence to Metaheuristics: Nature-Inspired Algorithms" – Xin-She Yang, Suash Deb, Simon Fong, Xingshi He, and Yu-Xin Zhao describe recent developments in nature-derived algorithms and give an overview of those derived from species-based behaviors.
• "Cortically Coupled Computing: A New Paradigm for Synergistic Human-Machine Interaction" – Sameer Saproo, Josef Faller, Victor Shih, Paul Sajda, Nick R. Waytowich, Addison Bohannon, Vernon J. Lawhern, Brent J. Lance, and David Jangraw postulate that as machine intelligence approaches the general effectiveness of human intelligence, the need for explicit programming of machines by humans will be disrupted.

Computing paradigms will continue to emerge and evolve to offer new capabilities that extend computing’s reach and utility. To successfully embrace the potential offered by new computing paradigms, researchers, developers, and industry have to address several questions: How can we effectively address the challenges these paradigms pose? Will such paradigms be viable and evolve as next-gen computers? Are they transformational?

Through the articles in Computer's special issue, readers will get a glimpse of what is on the horizon for emerging computing technologies, and researchers and developers from multidisciplinary fields are encouraged to learn from each other and work together to further advance computing.

The entire Computer special issue is available here.