Computing in Nonlinear Media and Automata Collectives

"… a very original book by a very original author who is a regular contributor to Chaos, Solitons and Fractals and is a well-known name to readers of our journal … In my opinion, this book is a valuable reading material for mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and engineers working in the applications of nonlinear dynamics and related fields."-M.S. El Naschie, Pergamon"The book is a fascinating guide for the discovery of the complex domain of 'unconventional computing' … the richness of the topics allows for additional personalized readings satisfying the interests of multidisciplinary readers. The argumentation is well organized, from the basic concepts to more sophisticated techniques."-Carla Simone, Universita di Milano Bicocca"This captivating book surveys novel unconventional computing methods. For quite some time now experimental results have demonstrated the potential of DNA-based computing. But this book represents a surprisingly large number of additional designs of computing devices that to a great part are based on natural substances: they include curiosities as a model of the dynamics of a shifting sandpile and devices that imitate the behaviour of a nest of foraging ants … The many examples of unconventional computing methods in this book are presented in various degrees of detail … It remains to be seen which of the many unconventional computing methods in Adamatzky's interesting book will evolve from their present abstract state to actual devices of practical value."-Menachem Dishon, Mathematical Reviews

• Reaction-diffusion, excitation, and computation. Subdivision of space. Computation on and with graphs. Computational universality of excitable media. Phenomenology of lattice excitation and emergence of computation.