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Handbook of innovative computing : models, enabling technologies, and applications
Zomaya A. (ed), Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Secaucus, NJ, 2005. 736 pp. Type: Book (9780387405322)
Date Reviewed: Oct 5 2006

Nature’s best ideas have inspired the design and construction of novel computational paradigms, based on the simple principle that nature has been doing a great job of solving complex problems for millions of years. For example, pattern recognition and learning, intrusion detection, and finding optimal paths for a network routing problem are naturally solved by nervous systems, immune systems, and ant colonies, respectively. Recently, several research groups at major universities around the globe have focused on the various aspects and applications of nature-inspired computation. In this book, Zomaya attempts to present some of the nature-inspired paradigms, their enabling technologies, and some of their hot applications. The edited collection of 22 chapters is authored by scholars who are well known in their respective fields.

The book is organized into three parts. Part 1 (chapters 1 through 8) presents the different computational models, and explains how some of these techniques could be used for practical problem solving. In the first chapter, Rosenberg presents the research challenges in the field of collaborative computing when devising algorithms for shared-memory multiprocessors, message passing multiprocessors, cluster computers, and Internet computing. Tari and Wu, in chapter 2, describe a hybrid association rule mining algorithm that is resource efficient and provides better performance. The proposed algorithm uses array-based item storage for the candidate and frequent itemsets, and also requires the transformation of data that involves excessive computational resources and heavy central processing unit (CPU) overhead. In chapter 3, Krishnamurthy and Krishnamurthy present a rule-based multiset distributed paradigm as a unified theme for an innovative computational framework. The rules are developed in a parallel environment, and any number of actions can be performed cooperatively or competitively so that the rules are evolved toward equilibrium. Seredynski, in chapter 4, describes the main concepts of biological evolution, and a general computational framework is presented. Some variants of evolutionary algorithms, namely, genetic algorithms, genetic programming, evolution strategies, evolutionary programming, and learning classifier systems, are also presented. In chapter 5, Taheri and Zomaya describe the biological motivation of modeling artificial neural networks, with an emphasis on supervised and unsupervised learning schemes. Kennedy, in chapter 6, introduces the swarm intelligence paradigm, and illustrates how the algorithm could be used for dynamic problems, multiobjective problems, and other difficult types of problems. Some research directions are presented by the author. In chapter 7, Taheri and Zomaya present the concepts of fuzzy logic, fuzzy set theory, and operators, and the different types of fuzzy systems. The authors also present different ways to generate fuzzy if-then rules, and some simple applications are illustrated. Eisert and Wolf, in chapter 8, describe the inspiration behind quantum computing, and present how to program a quantum computer. Some elementary quantum algorithms are illustrated further, and the chapter ends with some research directions.

Part 2 (chapters 9 through 18) discusses recent computer technologies that enable advanced computation. In chapter 9, Yi and Lilja present the fundamentals of modern computer architecture, illustrating the differences between reduced instruction set computer (RISC) and complex instruction set computer (CISC) architectures. The authors stress the importance of pipelining, and the chapter ends with multithreaded architectures. Eshaghian-Wilner, in chapter 10, summarizes some of the major research contributions in the area of very large-scale integration (VLSI) computing with optical interconnects, from the early modelings of the 1980s to today’s micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) implementations and nanotechnology. In chapter 11, Hartenstein presents morphware, which mainly has been introduced by the discipline of embedded system design, targeting the system on a chip. Gordon and Bentley, in chapter 12, introduce research in evolvable hardware, stressing the importance of performance and evolvability. In chapter 13, Smith discusses the hardware implementation of neural networks. The author attempts to convince the reader that a hardware implementation holds promise for faster emulation, both because hardware implementation is inherently faster, and because operation is much more parallel. Eshaghian-Wilner et al., in chapter 14, present a brief overview of nanoscale and molecular computing technology, including molecular switches, resonant tunnel diodes, tunnel diodes, single electron transistors, carbon nanotube field-effect transistors, quantum dots, and spin systems. In chapter 15, Dongarra presents recent trends in high-performance computing (HPC), with an emphasis on how HPC has transformed a number of science and engineering disciplines. Yeo at al., in chapter 16, summarize trends in cluster computing, with an emphasis on different cluster programming models. Some application examples are used to illustrate what cluster computing could do for scientific computations. In chapter 17, Benatallah et al. present an overview of Web service computing, which is a new buzzword sweeping through the information systems infrastructure industry. Even a first-time reader would be able to learn all the fundamental concepts and recent trends of Web service computing from this chapter, as well as how it could be used for practical applications. Wolski et al., in chapter 18, describe methods to predict the performance of computational grid resources, using some computationally inexpensive statistical techniques.

Part 3 (chapters 19 to 22) focuses on a variety of application domains. In chapter 19, Kumar and Das present the pervasive computing environment, its enabling technologies, and some future challenges. Eades et al., in chapter 20, discuss some recent research on information display. The authors illustrate new methods for drawing graphs, aimed at coping with large data sets. Aluru begins chapter 21, on bioinformatics, with an introduction to the basics of molecular biology, and some of the basic tools of computational genomics. Some future challenges are also presented. Szpiro, in the last chapter, illustrates some new techniques to analyze and compare the noise levels in foreign exchange markets.

The editor has attempted to summarize some of the recent trends and future challenges in nature-inspired computing, including enabling technologies and some applications. Most of the chapters are well organized, with most of the content explained well, without using many additional references. Most of the chapters also have a distributed computing flavor. It would have been a great challenge for any editor to assemble the technical contents presented in this book, and I believe that Zomaya has marginally succeeded. In Part 1, perhaps the editor could have presented a few chapters on some recent nature-inspired computing paradigms, like membrane computing, bacterial foraging, or artificial immune systems. Instead of presenting fuzzy logic, perhaps the editor could have included more discussion about computing with words, where fuzzy logic has proven to be very useful. Some standalone chapters on mobile computing, sensor networks, and information security would have been useful in Part 2. Part 3 is the weakest part of the volume; lots of interesting applications could have been presented.

This book does not present much novel research, and is not intended as a tutorial for beginners. The contents and the references presented could provide basic information for many advanced computing topics, however. I recommend this book for engineers, scientists, and practitioners who would like a state-of-the-art research overview of some of the hottest topics in computer science. Finally, I would like to congratulate the editor for taking up this interesting challenge and putting together this collection of research contributions.

Reviewer:  Ajith Abraham Review #: CR133393 (0710-0951)
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Modeling Techniques (C.4 ... )
 
 
Neural Nets (C.1.3 ... )
 
 
Models Of Computation (F.1.1 )
 
 
Network Architecture And Design (C.2.1 )
 
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