This report gives an overview of the Edge Computing paradigm and its applications. Indeed, with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, many electronic devices and sensors produce a vast volume of data that should be processed in a timely manner and this novel computing model is nowadays seen as a pertinent answer to this open challenge. This report thus explains why Edge Computing is needed and how the edge architecture is typically structured. It further presents the technologies that help this cutting-edge model to function properly. Since Edge Computing involves a heterogeneous architecture, it requires adapting to a few technological recommendations for optimal performance. In this context, this report reviews the latest hardware technology trends tied to Edge Computing developments and points out technical challenges in implementing this innovative computing model. In particular, we analyze how High-Performance Computing and Cloud Computing infrastructures can be efficiently organized to design an Edge Computing-based framework able to tackle cutting-edge issues solved by Artificial Intelligence techniques. Finally, this report presents selected real-world applications of the Edge Computing paradigm across multiple domains affecting our daily lives, i.e., healthcare, smart cities and grids, industry 4.0, and public safety.
