Nanocomputing is an emerging research topic that aims at
exploring how computing machines could be build using nanofabricated
components beyond the well established CMOS
technology.
In a first part we will introduce the most promising routes
toward the integration of nanotechnologies into computer
architectures. In particular we will look at the main properties
of nano-fabricated components and analyze their impact on the
computing platform. In the second part we will present the
ongoing research in the topic focusing on the latest results from
the European project NABAB. This project aims at exploiting a
variety of nanotechnolgies for building neuro-inspired
computing structures. In the third and final part we will expose
the main challenges of this research and discuss some
perspectives in this exciting new field including potential
applications.