History of development of both hardware and software in computing is older than the history of computer hardware.
Research and Emerging Technologies
In computing DNA based computing and quantum computing are areas of active research for both computing hardware and software.
Cloud Computing
A model that allows for the use of computing resources, such as servers or applications without the need for interaction between the owner of these resources and the end user. The cloud computing is typically offered as a services like
Software as a services (SaaS)
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Infrastructure as a services (IaaS)
More details about the cloud services will be covered in respective sections with detailed with the cloud service providers like Azure, AWS, Google Cloud etc.
Quantum Computing
An area of new research that brings together the disciplines of computer science, information theory and quantum physics. Whereas traditional computing operates on a binary system of ones and zeros, quantum computing uses qubits. qubits are capable of being in a superposition as both the states of zero and one simultaneously and the value of the qubit is not between 1 and 0 but changes depending on what it is measured.
Other Different Computing Paradigms
Distributed Computing – Defined as a type of computing where multiple computer systems works on single problem which is to increase the performance and efficiency of the system and ensure fault tolerance.
Parallel Computing – Defined as type of computing where multiple computer systems are used simultaneously with multiple processors that communicate with each other and perform multiple tasks over a shared memory simultaneously.
Cluster Computing – Defined as a type of computing that consists of two or more independent computers, referred as nodes that works together to execute tasks as a single machine.
Grid Computing – Defined as type of computing where it is constitutes as network of computers that works together to perform tasks that may be difficult for a single machine to handle. All computers on that networks works under same umbrella and are termed as a virtual super computer.
Utility Computing – Defined as a type of computing where the service provider provides the needed resources and services to the customer and charges them depending on usage of these resources as per requirement and demand but not a fixed rate.
Edge Computing – Defined as type of computing that is focused on decreasing the long distance communication between the client and the server. This is done by running fewer processes in the cloud and moving these processes onto a user’s computer, IoT device or edge device/server. e.g. Akamai CDN.
Fog Computing – Defined as the type of computing that acts as computational structure between the cloud and the data producing devices. The structure enables users to allocate resources, data, applications in locations at a closer range within each other.