Quantum Computer To Launch Next Week

judgecorp writes "D-Wave Systems of British Columbia is all set to demonstrate a 16-qubit quantum computer. Simple devices have been built in the lab before, and this is still a prototype, but it is a commercial project that aims to get quantum devices into computer rooms, solving tricky problems such as financial optimization. Most quantum computers have to be isolated from the outside world (look at them and they stop working). This one is an 'adiabatic' quantum computer — which means (in theory, says D-Wave) that it can live with thermal noise and give results without having to be isolated. There's a description of it here — and pretty pictures too."

Comments

Re:Just in time

[LiquidCoooled]

Actually, this won't crack vista, but apparantly it will confirm the seating plan for a wedding.

"look at them and they stop working"

[mnemotronic]

Most quantum computers have to be isolated from the outside world (look at them and they stop working).

Sounds like my Windows boxes. I guess MS was further ahead of the curve than I thought.

Re:Quantum mystery

[Loco Moped]

Most quantum computers have to be isolated from the outside world (look at them and they stop working)

So... in what fundamental way is this different from running Windows?

Always a caveat...

[zolaar]

It may launch next week, but it's impossible to say where... </farnsworth>

Re:Quantum mystery

[julesh]

Do you consider photons particles or waves here[...]?

Yes.

Re:Quantum mystery

[alta]

They call that a flaming stick. Obviously they don't have a firm grasp of the language... They way the talk though, you'd think they'd invented it.

Already Self Aware in the Future

[WED Fan]

The Quantum Computer launched next week, becoming sentient and self-aware 5 minutes before being turned on. A worm-hole opened shortly after activation, preloading the Quantum OS 3 weeks ago that was announced next week and was ready for installation 2 years before the actual delivery date of February 9, 2021. 4 Hot fixes were waiting, in the quantum queu but won't be loaded until July 3, 2002 due to a lack of connectivity that was fixed in 2008.

Tasks for the quantum computer are:

• Create a more human acting Al Gore Animatronic OS
• Provide at least 3 items that will help Hillary Clinton be more likeable (this is expected to take much of the processing time)
• Locate every lost sock since the invention of the clothes dryer
• Prove that God does exist and that he doesn't believe that we exist
• Comb galactic dictionaries for a word that George W. Bush can't mispronounce
• Prove Decartes was wrong showing that Britney is incapable of thought, yet still exists
• Try to resolve conflicting formulas and show that Google really isn't evil

Failure of the first 2 bullets have caused the new Quantum Computer to commit intellectual suicide and it now spends most of its time watching Buffy reruns and constructing 11 dimensional models of the Babylon 5 sets.

Question: Will work or will it fail?

[dwalsh]

Answer: Yes. Both.