Natural Computing is the field of research that investigates both human-designed computing
inspired by nature and computing taking place in nature i.e. it investigates models and
computational techniques inspired by nature and also it investigates phenomena taking place in
nature in terms of information processing. Examples of the first strand of research covered by
the handbook include neural computation inspired by the functioning of the brain evolutionary
computation inspired by Darwinian evolution of species cellular automata inspired by
intercellular communication swarm intelligence inspired by the behavior of groups of organisms
artificial immune systems inspired by the natural immune system artificial life systems
inspired by the properties of natural life in general membrane computing inspired by the
compartmentalized ways in which cells process information and amorphous computing inspired by
morphogenesis. Other examples of natural-computing paradigms are molecular computing and
quantum computing where the goal is to replace traditional electronic hardware e.g. by
bioware in molecular computing. In molecular computing data are encoded as biomolecules and
then molecular biology tools are used to transform the data thus performing computations. In
quantum computing one exploits quantum-mechanical phenomena to perform computations and secure
communications more efficiently than classical physics and hence traditional hardware allows.
The second strand of research covered by the handbook computation taking place in nature is
represented by investigations into among others the computational nature of self-assembly
which lies at the core of nanoscience the computational nature of developmental processes the
computational nature of biochemical reactions the computational nature of bacterial
communication the computational nature of brain processes and the systems biology approach to
bionetworks where cellular processes are treated in terms of communication and interaction and
hence in terms of computation. We are now witnessing exciting interaction between computer
science and the natural sciences. While the natural sciences are rapidly absorbing notions
techniques and methodologies intrinsic to information processing computer science is adapting
and extending its traditional notion of computation and computational techniques to account
for computation taking place in nature around us. Natural Computing is an important catalyst
for this two-way interaction and this handbook is a major record of this important
development.
