Aardvark

[Bruce Simpson]

This column is archived at: http://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2007/1206.shtml

Happy 60th birthday Mr transistor.

So what will the next 60 years bring?

Will we finally make the breakthrough that'll be required to turn the promise of ultra-powerful quantum computers a reality?

And if we do manage to make practical quantum computers, just what will we do with them?

With the almost exponential growth of technology, will we have all the computing power we could ever need this century -- or will the laws of physics ankle-tap Moore's law and slow us down?

Has your computer got more bits of memory than there are people on the face of the earth?

I wonder how many bits of memory there are in the entire world

[thrashcardiom]

This amuses me:

Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 00:14:10 -0000
From: Rob Slade <rMslade@private>
Subject: Quantum Security

Quantum computing is a field of research based upon the notion of quantum entities known as qubits. Unlike the classical computer bit, which can exist in either a one or zero state, qubits can exists in a superposition of both states simultaneously, and possibly more. This may (or may not) enable us to create new computer architectures which can (or can't) provide new computing capabilities.

The ability for a qubit to hold both one and zero states simultaneously implies that quantum computer architectures will be able to compute all possible|each possible|every possible|all feasible|each feasible|every feasible|all viable|each viable|every viable|all conceivable|each conceivable|every conceivable|all imaginable|each imaginable|every imaginable value for a given problem at once (or not).

Given this new and powerful computer architecture, we may (or may not) be able to perform computations of NP-complete, non-convergent, or least path problems in less than exponential times. This has significant implications for risk analysis and management. Possibly the greatest risk is in pursuing
a technology which may never produce a real effect. However, on February 13th of this year, a Canadian company demonstrated a device which is the largest quantum computer built to date (or not).

The superposition factor of computing all possible values holds promise in terms of encryption, but the relation to encryption does not end there.

Using the quantum phenomenon of entanglement, the sender can determine whether or not a third party is reading transmissions. (I wonder if anyone is reading this?) Unfortunately, the concepts of quantum encryption, and quantum computing, although they use different technologies (or not), are entangled in the public mind.

I have, as it happens, been working on a paper (for the next ISMH) on the security implications of quantum computing. At the moment, the paper is in a superposition state of being written and not written. (Until an observer looks at it, have I really written the paper?)

Returning to the topic of risk management, quantum devices may be able to compute, via an assessment of the lowest energy state, the optimum configu...

Oh, I'm too tired to finish this off ...

[johnthetech]

[techy]

Want to wash the clothes? If yours is one of the newer "smarter" machines, it'll work out how much water to use, how long to wash, rinse, spin and how may times to repeat the process in order to achieve a totally satisfactory result.

Want to record a programme on the VCR? Just whack a G-code in and the machine will work out for itself what time, what channel, and how long to record for.

And just what makes all this fancy stuff so simple?

Hmmm, having worked for F&P once I can tell you most of the "wash programmes" are exactly the same.

Yep, hardware is marvellous. Pity the software isn't as neat.

[Peter]

[Online Gamer]

[Jman]

[gordy]

seen this http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0607/1401.html?

Not amazing but the first sign that FLASH may be going the way of the dinosaur. No doubt these 1MB parts will be expensive but so was FLASH when EEPROMs were king.

[linw]

We could make 120 'sentient' robots and put them in parliament. They may not make better decisions, but at least they would be cheaper to run.

[zkarj]

It's quite simple. Once that kind of power, and prediction, is available the human race will destroy itself with its own inventions. Let's hope that interstellar travel comes first so at least some will have a hope of surviving.

[Bruce Simpson]

I'm actually wondering whether the big advantage of quantum computing won't be so much the extra power (although that's nice) but the massive reduction in size.

Imagine having supercomputer power in your wristwatch or cellphone.

The real problem however, will be the questionable reliability of the results. After all, in the world of quantum physics, there are no certainties, only probabilities

[gordy]

[Peter]

Including a location detector that helps deliver targeted advertising - walk past a pub and it sends a thirsty signal, and is smart enough to flash three stars in front of your eyes if you are in NZ or London, and four stars if you are in Aus.

[gordy]

[Peter]

What if the cost of rejuvenation is patented, and the only way you can afford it is by having it subsidised on condition that you don't filter any advertising?

Anyway, we can't live forever. Morally. We have a duty to make way for the generations that follow. Eventually.

[gordy]

[Peter]

So you work your butt off saving for a rejuve, then start working your butt off for your next one??

[gordy]

[Peter]

If I think this rejuve thing cam in big time nature would have it's way of sorting things out, maybe the human race would self destruct, maybe the earth would get a major rejuve.

[starman]

[gordy]