Most natural and artificial systems transform information in a predictable or programmable way
such transformation can be interpreted as harnessing nature for computing. Recently we have
witnessed a burst of research in unconventional computing resulting in the development of
experimental prototypes of natural computers plasmodium computers reaction-diffusion
processors and DNA computers as well as theoretical paradigms of natural computation such as
cellular automata artificial chemistry evolutionary computing and neural networks. The
International Workshop on Natural Computing (IWNC) brings together computer scientists
biologists mathematicians electronic engineers physicists and others to critically assess
present findings in the field and to outline future developments in nature-inspired computing.
This compilation of papers presented at the most recent workshop held in Nagoya Japan makes
a valuable contribution to the understanding of natural computing.
