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Are We Entering a "Golden Age of Quantum Computing Research"?
Lashdots writes: Last month, an elite team at IBM Research announced an advance in quantum computing: it had built a four-qubit square lattice of superconducting qubits, roughly one-quarter-inch square, that was capable of detecting and measuring the two types of quantum computing errors (bit-flip and phase-flip). Previously, it was only possible to address one type of quantum error or the other. The next step is to correct quantum errors.
In a blog post, Mark Ritter, who oversees scientists and engineers at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Laboratory, wrote: "I believe we're entering what will come to be seen as the golden age of quantum computing research." His team, he said, is "on the forefront of efforts to create the first true quantum computer." But what would that mean, and what other big next steps are there?
In a blog post, Mark Ritter, who oversees scientists and engineers at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Laboratory, wrote: "I believe we're entering what will come to be seen as the golden age of quantum computing research." His team, he said, is "on the forefront of efforts to create the first true quantum computer." But what would that mean, and what other big next steps are there?
There is no doubt that whether it is for education, socialization, entertainment or even life saving medical research computers are a blessing. But the other shoe must also drop. Disruption took place as well as all of the good that was done. That disruption is increasing rapidly and elimination of jobs and trades is now a pressing problem. The next leap with a quantum computer breakthrough may well cause even greater levels of disruption as well as bring fourth new blessings. But the horror is that despite the critical need to do so there has been no social or economic policy adjustment to help with the disruptions. We will need and entirely new economic model for society or we will have chaos. Yet we lag behind in very basic ways. For example we can not afford for urban neighborhoods to have second rate schools. We can not afford for any ethnic group to be locked out or disadvantaged. We need all the educated minds that we can create to have any hope of sustaining ourselves in international trade. We need large numbers of engineers, scientists and top drawer artisans to have any hope of competing with other nations. China, Japan, Taiwan and others are turning out very potent scholars and we must turn out scholars who are even more deeply educated in large numbers. this is very challenging as we are essentially low in population compared to China and India.