Alternative Paradigms of Computation

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.