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Opening Quantum Computing To the Public
director_mr writes "Tom's Hardware is running a story with an interesting description of a 28-qubit quantum computer that was developed by D-Wave Systems. They intend to open up use of their quantum computer to the public. It is particularly good at pattern recognition, it operates at 10 milliKelvin, and it is shielded to limit electromagnetic interference to one nanotesla in three dimensions across the whole chip. Could this be the first successful commercial quantum computer?"
Can someone post a link that describes the benefits of a quantum architecture and how software can be written to take advantage of them?
And by "benefits", I don't mean hype.
By the same token, you could have performed calculations easier on a slide rule than on the first binary computers built. I think the point of this is proof-of-concept of a new technology rather than this particular unit taking over for modern systems.
If no one had bothered to use, abuse, and continue to develop binary computers half a century ago, then we'd still be using abacus and slide rule to perform all our calculations.
Not that I'm passing comment either way, as I don't know, but:
"acting like they have something to hide"
Something like intellectual property?
I hate printers.
Your statement is ironically close to the truth. Quantum computers actually function in parallel to conventional devices when it comes to the simple tasks that they perform, such as rendering intricate scenes, or estimating series values. What quantum computers are better at is taking advantage of quantum effects to exponentially outperform conventional computers at things such as factoring immense integers. They will most likely be used for decryption and quantum simulations, or other mathematically novel applications. In other words, it benefits businesses and scientists the most. They will most likely have commercial value in the future, but that is when they develop more uses for it, such as emulating the human mind to make ultra-realistic (if not realistic) AI. At the moment however, it is still in the computer equivalent stage of useless behemoth. Someone in some field will most likely make a huge discovery similar to the silicon transistors of the past, win a Nobel prize, and set the stage for a new revolution. Feels like a long way from now, but I'll probably be proved wrong.
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Because then the speed advantage will not be realized. That's the whole benefit to quantum computing. If we tried simulating the quantum properties in software, the task at hand would take even longer than a standard software approach.
What quantum computers are better at is taking advantage of quantum effects to exponentially outperform conventional computers at things such as factoring immense integers.
That's a little misleading; it's unknown how fast classical factoring is, so it's impossible to say that quantum factoring "exponentially outperforms" it.
but that is when they develop more uses for it, such as emulating the human mind to make ultra-realistic (if not realistic) AI.
It's unlikely that quantum computers are needed for AI; the problem with AI is not that we don't have enough computer power, but that we don't know what to do.
Someone in some field will most likely make a huge discovery similar to the silicon transistors of the past
Or it will turn out that quantum computing just isn't feasible for some physical reason.
I don't know who modded you Insightful, but AI research has produced many useful results. The fact that it hasn't produced HAL 9000 very much does not mean it's on the same level as parapsychology.
Similarly, quantum physics is a real field of science, and quantum computing is based on solid scientific principles. This company may be a bunch of frauds, but if you want to suggest quantum physics is a massive conspiracy among the physicists of the world you're going to need more than just handwaving and pointing to a field of pseudoscience that never had the support of mainstream scientists.
I can say that I have direct experience that proves the existence of energy.
Well, thats a rigorous enough sample size for me, bring on the crystals and pyramids!
The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
Sounds like you are guilty of the last sentence as well.
What do you believe then? Superposition of wave functions is implicit in Schroedinger's equation. In fact, it's implicit in any differential equation of a wave function (if this is not obvious, I will gladly explain in a later post). What exactly is your version of "Quantum physics" that doesn't allow for superposition?
Furthermore, don't try the "more than one _ at the same time" trick with me: it won't work. Quantum mechanics does NOT advocate that any object is ever in two states at the same time; it suggests that it is in some other "state" which is not logically "compatible" with your other notions of "state." Try reading Robert Griffiths' "Consistent Quantum Theory." You will agree with him on philosophical issues (he's also Christian).
I don't remember ever saying that I rejected quantum physics. Why the strawman?
Read your own blog, Mr. Troll. You *do* say that quantum physics is crackpottery. Please keep your ravings straight.
Do you people work for D-Waves? Or are you all ass kissers by nature?
I don't have any opinion on D-Waves. They are probably selling snake-oil. As for the personal attacks, you sure have an interesting blog and post history. Most trolls forget create a blog that advertises the fact (maybe they troll for kicks, but you seem to be after the page hits). From the blog's "about me", first item:
I am a crackpot and a crank. Those are my credentials.