Alternative Paradigms of Computation

TL;DR

This paper surveys various alternative computation paradigms beyond traditional silicon-based hardware, discussing their advantages, challenges, and potential applications in data analytics and graph processing.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of multiple emerging computation modes, highlighting their current state, metrics, and potential use cases, which is a novel synthesis in this field.

Findings

Several modes show promise for specialized tasks

Quantum and neuromorphic computing are actively researched

Alternative paradigms could complement traditional computing in data analytics

Abstract

With Moore's law coming to a close it is useful to look at other forms of computer hardware. In this paper we survey what is known about several modes of computation: Neuromorphic, Custom Logic, Quantum, Optical, Spintronics, Reversible, Many-Valued Logic, Chemical, DNA, Neurological, Fluidic, Amorphous, Thermodynamic, Peptide, and Membrane. For each of these modes of computing we discuss pros, cons, current work, and metrics. After surveying these alternative modes of computation we discuss two aread where they may useful: data analytics and graph processing.