The computing continuum: Past, present, and future

The development of network-connected computing resources has led to various computing paradigms over the years, each bringing its own set of challenges for creating efficient distributed systems. Currently, there is an increasing need to integrate the evolving Internet of Things (IoT) with the established Cloud infrastructure. This integration often requires adding intermediate layers to address Cloud limitations such as latency, bandwidth, security, cost, and control. This configuration, known as the computing continuum, involves a diverse array of distributed devices with unique characteristics working together to meet the demands of both current and emerging applications. This paper explores the path that has led to the development of the computing continuum, offering a technology-agnostic definition from a historical perspective. It also examines applications that can benefit from the computing continuum and identifies research challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize its potential.