Quantum Computer Works Better Shut Off

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Quantum Computer Works Better Shut Off

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Thursday February 23, 2006 @02:17AM from the oh-my-head dept.

waimate writes "A New Scientist article relates how its possible to get answers from a quantum computer even when your program isn't running." From the article: "With the right set-up, the theory suggested, the computer would sometimes get an answer out of the computer even though the program did not run. And now researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have improved on the original design and built a non-running quantum computer that really works."

38 of 376 comments (clear)

Gee whiz by JPamplin · 2006-02-23 02:18 · Score: 4, Funny

Wish I could do that with my "real" PC - save alot of power that way. Hard to see the screen though. ;-)

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1. Re:Gee whiz by BobPaul · 2006-02-23 02:21 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  It reads to me like the computer isn't off, just the search program isn't running. Unless whatever optical sensors they're using to get they're answer aren't considered part of the computer.
  
  I'll admidt I really don't understand what the article is talking about, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Heisenberg's Uncertainty...
2. Re:Gee whiz by flyingsquid · 2006-02-23 02:49 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I'll admidt I really don't understand what the article is talking about, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Heisenberg's Uncertainty...
  This sounds like zen buddhist computer science. Either that or something cooked up after a little too much of the green stuff. Still, makes me wonder. What kind of software do you run... erm, not run... on a computer that isn't running? Non-existent programs, like Duke Nukem Forever?
  Hrm. That would open up a whole new industry. That'd be a fun profession, full-time vaporware programmer... hell, I'm gonna start right now. I'm officially announcing VaporWorks, an integrated word processor, spreadsheet, calendar and presentation software suite, not running on your computer in the near future. If anyone needs me, I'll be on the beach in Cancun spending my startup money, not busy working 16 hour days to get it ready.
3. Re:Gee whiz by PFI_Optix · 2006-02-23 03:07 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  VaporWorks 2.0 should integrate a media player, photo editor, and its own integrated web crawler to compete with Google.
  
  After all, it's always best to try to make your product do everything, even if it sounds impossible. Apparently VC investors like that.
  
  --
  120 characters for a sig? That's bloody useless.
4. Re:Gee whiz by drivekiller · 2006-02-23 05:29 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I'm looking forward to providing tech support in the age of quantum computing -- "Is the power on?" "OK, turn it off and run the query again."
5. Re:Gee whiz by jonbritton · 2006-02-23 05:46 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  So, you're saying this article works much better when it isn't read?
6. Re:Gee whiz by Wilson_6500 · 2006-02-23 06:22 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Too late. I hold the patent on all non-running software. You either must pay the monthly licensing fees for not running my software, or purchase and run my software, which itself requires the additional purchase of monthly update packages.
7. Re:Gee whiz by Frizzle+Fry · 2006-02-23 08:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I think the more relevant question is where do you not send your resume.
  
  --
  I'd rather be lucky than good.
It just sleeps on it. by SomeoneGotMyNick · 2006-02-23 02:19 · Score: 3, Funny

I sometimes get better answers to my own questions simply by sleeping on it.
Better when shut off! by Rob+T+Firefly · 2006-02-23 02:19 · Score: 3, Funny

Neat! It's an updated Sinclair ZX-81!

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Oh What Fun by TechJones · 2006-02-23 02:19 · Score: 2, Funny

Think of all the power we would save not playing MMOs with the PC turned on.
Hang on.. by cameronking · 2006-02-23 02:23 · Score: 2, Funny

How can it work better when its off than when its on. Its either on or off, it can't be on and off at the same time!
</sarcasm>
Oh Great: Ultimate in quantum malware by G4from128k · 2006-02-23 02:26 · Score: 2, Funny

Soon there will be quantum malware that "runs" even if you never try to open it, even if you kill its process, even if you filter it, even if your packets just pass close to it.

For all we know this malware is already running.

--
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1. Re:Oh Great: Ultimate in quantum malware by timster · 2006-02-23 02:43 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Yeah, I can see it now:
  
  "You imbecile! You let that virus infect our systems!"
  "But I didn't open the file!"
  "Yes, but there was a 2 percent chance that you would have, so two percent of our data was affected... and included in that two percent was your entry in the payroll database. So I'm not firing you, but you won't be paid anymore."
  "This sucks! I'm going to commit Schroedinger's Seppuku! You'll regret this when I walk in that door with my guts both spilling out and in my body!"
  
  --
  I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
2. Re:Oh Great: Ultimate in quantum malware by ArsenneLupin · 2006-02-23 03:43 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  You can keep comitting quantum suicide but you'll never really die...
  Funniest sentence from the article:
  The experiment essentially involves looking at the Schrödinger's cat experiment from the point of view of the cat.
  Ha! Or from the point of view of the toxoplasmosis spores that live in the cat's brain...
3. Re:Oh Great: Ultimate in quantum malware by dillee1 · 2006-02-23 04:40 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  "This sucks! I'm going to commit Schroedinger's Seppuku! You'll regret this when I cut MY stomach and YOUR gut spilling out by entanglement!"
and... by jcostantino · 2006-02-23 02:26 · Score: 4, Funny

in unrelated news, my refrigerator light bulb works better with the door closed.

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Schrödinger's PC by ToxikFetus · 2006-02-23 02:26 · Score: 2, Funny

But how do we KNOW it's off?
Laziness... by bwcarty · 2006-02-23 02:27 · Score: 4, Funny

I may appear lazy, but on a quantum level, I'm really quite busy.
In related news.... by Lxy · 2006-02-23 02:29 · Score: 3, Funny

Microsoft reported earlier today that Windows performs better with your PC shut off.

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:wq
1. Re:In related news.... by pixas · 2006-02-23 03:14 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  actually, windows does report that windows runs better when windows is shut off.
  http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s= 26945&a=171997&po=12,00.asp
2. Re:In related news.... by slashname3 · 2006-02-23 04:37 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Microsoft reported earlier today that Windows performs better with your PC shut off.
  
  Funny, most users report the same thing.
The Next Step by the+eric+conspiracy · 2006-02-23 02:31 · Score: 3, Funny

I can just see the next article - "Quantum Software Works Better Without A Computer".

And the followup:

"Quantum Software Works Better Before Writing the Code Than After Writing the Code".
Re:So how do we... by leonardluen · 2006-02-23 02:33 · Score: 5, Funny

So how do we overclock it?

buy more cats
Re:Works better when shut off? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-02-23 02:41 · Score: 1, Funny

Hey, stop hitting me!

Oh, sorry... but this is Abuse.
That's easy! by sczimme · 2006-02-23 02:44 · Score: 2, Funny

How can it work better when its off than when its on. Its either on or off, it can't be on and off at the same time!

Schroedinger + Heisenberg == Schroedenberg's Uncertain Cat Principle

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I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
Re:Deep Thought... by Noryungi · 2006-02-23 02:45 · Score: 4, Funny

The computer says the answer is 42.

All we need to do now is program the question...

Duh. The question was: "An African, or a European Swallow?".

Think about THAT for a second. ;-)

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The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended. (Rowan Atkinson)
Re:April Fools? by narratorDan · 2006-02-23 02:46 · Score: 2, Funny

Late? Or perhaps you meant early? Or it could be that this is neither late nor early, but simply in a quantum state of an April Fool's joke that has been measured before all the computations had a chance to stabilize in the computer (running or not).

Narratordan

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"If you're not confused by quantum mechanics, you really don't understand it." - Niels Bohr
My God... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-02-23 02:57 · Score: 1, Funny

My God, it's full of answers!
Before it was switched on.. by Spiralin · 2006-02-23 03:01 · Score: 2, Funny

..did it also deduce the existance of rice pudding and income tax?
Schrodinger's programmer by LandKurt · 2006-02-23 03:09 · Score: 5, Funny

If anyone needs me, I'll be on the beach in Cancun spending my startup money, not busy working 16 hour days to get it ready.
No, here's what you do. You build a shielded, sound proofed room with your computer workstation, a nice entertainment center, bar and comfy recliner. Then you seal yourself in the room so no one can tell what you're doing. Either you have the computer turned on and are hard at work programming or you're kicked back doing nothing enjoying yourself. Call it Schrodinger's programmer.

Now, if your computer is hooked up to the Zeno effect device described in the article, it should be able to read the results of your work whether you actually did it or not. This should usher in a revolution in work environment for programmers everywhere.
And curiously the answer is always... by gravygraphics · 2006-02-23 03:12 · Score: 2, Funny

42
New Underpants business model for success by saskboy · 2006-02-23 03:24 · Score: 4, Funny

New business model:
1. Buy super quantum computer
2. ???
3. Profit!

We now know step 2. Shut the computer off and go for a long weekend.

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And my watch... by joecm · 2006-02-23 04:22 · Score: 2, Funny

also gives the right answer when it isn't working... twice a day.
Anticipated by BeOS by bnenning · 2006-02-23 06:37 · Score: 2, Funny

At last we see the purpose of the is_computer_on() function.

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So are you saying... by Sarev0k · 2006-02-23 07:23 · Score: 2, Funny

So are you saying it does all my work without even asking?
Dammit Bill (was Re:Gee whiz) by Aumaden · 2006-02-23 09:06 · Score: 4, Funny

Get your ass back to Redmond!
Obligatory MS Bashing... by HermanAB · 2006-02-23 10:30 · Score: 2, Funny

Given the wide spread infestations of malware, most Windoze machines also work better when turned off...

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Oh well, what the hell...