Are quantum computers an exaggeration, and a hype ?

[dragontamer5788]

Some things are not possible, regardless of improvement; this is the reason there are almost no analogue computers around these days.

Then again, I'd be delighted to be shown wrong.

OpAmps are analogue computers, and they're some of the most common "computers" in the world.

IE: Every single voltage regulator in the world uses OpAmps to compute current voltage / current and subtract it from the ideal voltage, deciding upon "more current" or "less current" to be delivered.

Digital Computers are great and all, but you can't handle 120V, 700V, 4000V, 10,000V (yes, 10-thousand+ volts) with digital computers. You can however use analog computer techniques (negative feedback, transistors in analog modes, etc. etc.) to route power, and compute derivatives, integrals, logarithms, exponents, subtraction, addition, multiplication on those 10,000V circuits we like to call "power lines".

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From a cost-efficacy perspective, the "computer" that calculates a 5 GHz radio signal and downsamples it to 1Gbit is largely analog as well (transistor based). Now modern digital computers can perform the task digitally, but its still very expensive (aka: software defined radios), so pure digital manipulation of WiFi signals is still not economical.

So bam, another analog computer that's beating the pants out of digital (cost wise at least).

 

[TumbleGeorge]

The way to general purpose quantum computers is paved not only with development of hardware part but also with new better algorithms.

 

[Shrek]

I think it is agreed that a quantum computer will never be generic in the sense of a Turing engine, that it will always be used in conjunction with a classical computer; but this does not deny it exponential power. Error correction may be its Achilles' heel.

 

[bug]

If we're going to necro this, let's do it right.

Lots of things are impossible: chariots without horses, objects heavier than air flying, reaching for the moon, teleportation...

 

[Deleted member 57642]

But, why exactly would you need one?! Did you even do any research on how they work and what can they be used for? It's not like a Quantum CPU is somehow similar to current CPUs - just way more powerful, it's actually - a different type of CPU altogether. With further technological breakthroughs - might get to a point where it can power A.I. Maybe even reduce its size to fit it them future robots (and thus human will get closer to becoming obsolete - by comparison). As for personal use, as mentioned above... I don't see why anyone would "need" one. Hacking for dummies?

The world is already overpopulated with ignorant people - owning smartphones, which... indeed - do have a practical and entertaining side. Even tho - they're rarely used at their actual potential (as the saying goes: stupid people - smart phones). But same can be said about a quantum powered smartphone. That's like asking: When will nuclear batteries get accessible for mainstream usage?! A curiosity inspired by the movie Terminator + having a battery that can last for a life time sounds neat too. Point being, yes... in theory - one could look at the positive aspects, but... realistically speaking - and while taking into account the average intellect of more than 99% of world's population - the Cons are so high - the Pros are not even worth taking into account anymore. Same can be said about Quantum Computers and mainstream usage.

Yes, technologically speaking we've evolved to Sci-Fi levels (most humans "can't" even understand current tech - even if one was to try to explain it in simple terms - their brain would crash while in the same time feeling like torture). And... the technology is still evolving. BUT... humans are the same. "We" are not evolving anymore - "the technology is evolving". Yes, we might measure the human potential - based on what the brightest minds managed to achieve (also taking the credit - just because we're humans like them - so we can feel better about ourselves) - based on what the most capable in every field can manage with the help of technology. Yet, that's not you, me or the majority. Matrix might sound/seem fun - to some extent - but it's hard to say if the being who will use Quantum CPUs (like we use a smartphone now) - we'll still see any potential in humans as a whole. Yes, they're sure to keep a select few (maybe less than 1%) - but i pretty much doubt the rest of us would be kept around as fuel (like it happens in the Matrix). Nor will there be any WW3 - resembling Terminator (that's still a "human fantasy" - the way humans act as the Apex predator). Point being... that (destruction, wasting a huge amount of resources) just wouldn't be practical to a Quantum Powered A.I. Machine/Being.

Long Story Short: A Quantum Computer in the hand of a home user - probably, wouldn't be that different than the latest Smartphone in the hand of a Chimpanzee. With extended usage - beyond scrolling, might even learn how to take a photo or scribble some random shit - but that's about it....

PS. Unless Cyborgs become a thing.

 

[TumbleGeorge]

Мoar quantum news

Quantum computer in data centres

and small BS from CERN and students.

 

[shoskunk]

If they aren't, do you think it will ever be available to average consumer and if so when ? Excited to hear what you people think.

Not hype at all. 1, 0, 10 The first binary computers filled gymnasium sized rooms and now...

With current limitations I would assume the growth scale may be slower but it's a logical next step, especially for creating and proving quantum theory related maths.

 

[Shrek]

I am concerned about error correction; regardless, I remain convinced that great things will come of this field.

Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics
Vol.6 No.11, November 2018
Quantum Bit Error Avoidance (scirp.org)

Disclosure: I'm the author of the work linked above.

It was Alan Turing who first understood the quantum Zeno effect; yes, that Turing.

 

[ARF]

The RF claims it has already developed a 16-qubit quantum computer.

 

[bug]

The RF claims it has already developed a 16-qubit quantum computer.

Considering the impeccable history of their chip-building industry, there is zero reason to question that.

 

[ARF]

Considering the impeccable history of their chip-building industry, there is zero reason to question that.

They completely changed their approach after year 2000. Before it, they had achievements - sent animals into Earth orbit, sent the first satellite, the first man, etc...
It's about choices what to develop and how/when to develop.

There is an article about it:

Russian Company Presents 16-qubit Quantum Computer to Vladimir Putin

Pairing trapped ions and photonics scaling in what looks like a viable quantum approach.

www.tomshardware.com

Developed by Russia's Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI) and the Russian Quantum Center, the quantum computer seems to make use of trapped ion qubits with integrated photonics - an approach leveraged by marquee quantum computing companies such as Quantinuum (the child fathered by the merger of Honeywell and Cambridge Quantum) and IonQ to achieve higher qubit count scalability while also reducing the impact of noise. In quantum computing, noise refers to changes in the qubits' environment (such as vibrations, electromagnetic interference, temperature, and others) that destroy qubits' processing capabilities by collapsing the qubits' entanglement and state (and as such, the information they were processing as well).

Rosatom's push for Russia's quantum advances started at least from November 7th, 2019, when it launched Russia's program for the development of quantum computing and algorithmic solutions. Just one year later, Russia announced an investment of around $790 million in the country's quantum computing capabilities, covering quantum research funding for the next five years. More recently, as early as February 2022, ROSATOM announced the creation of the National Quantum Laboratory (NQL), which aims to consolidate national quantum knowledge within one roof, with teams hailing from a number of state and private entities across Russia (and some contributions from foreign specialists as well).

 

[bug]

They completely changed their approach after year 2000. Before it, they had achievements - sent animals into Earth orbit, sent the first satellite, the first man, etc...
It's about choices what to develop and how/when to develop.

There is an article about it:

Russian Company Presents 16-qubit Quantum Computer to Vladimir Putin

Pairing trapped ions and photonics scaling in what looks like a viable quantum approach.

www.tomshardware.com

Developed by Russia's Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI) and the Russian Quantum Center, the quantum computer seems to make use of trapped ion qubits with integrated photonics - an approach leveraged by marquee quantum computing companies such as Quantinuum (the child fathered by the merger of Honeywell and Cambridge Quantum) and IonQ to achieve higher qubit count scalability while also reducing the impact of noise. In quantum computing, noise refers to changes in the qubits' environment (such as vibrations, electromagnetic interference, temperature, and others) that destroy qubits' processing capabilities by collapsing the qubits' entanglement and state (and as such, the information they were processing as well).

Rosatom's push for Russia's quantum advances started at least from November 7th, 2019, when it launched Russia's program for the development of quantum computing and algorithmic solutions. Just one year later, Russia announced an investment of around $790 million in the country's quantum computing capabilities, covering quantum research funding for the next five years. More recently, as early as February 2022, ROSATOM announced the creation of the National Quantum Laboratory (NQL), which aims to consolidate national quantum knowledge within one roof, with teams hailing from a number of state and private entities across Russia (and some contributions from foreign specialists as well).

I'll give you this, their recent advancements resemble quantum physics very closely: everything is ahead of its time and downright miraculous, until someone makes an actual observation (e.g. Ukrainian air defense shooting down "invincible" missiles without even knowing what they were firing at).

Just to be clear, I am aware Russians had numerous scholars that have advanced science significantly in the past. Otoh: Lomonosov, Mendeleev, Pavlov, Perelman.