QUANTUM COMPUTING Cam E. IT-10

NORMAL COMPUTERS A normal computer works using switches. Imagine a switch as a light switch, with off and on. In a normal computer, there are millions of tiny switches, all that can be on or off. In the computer, each switch can be on or off at any time. If the switch is off, this is a 0, and if it is on, it is a 1. This system is called binary. Lots of switches allows for lots of 1s and 0s. With binary, letters (a is in binary), pictures, and more complicated data can be created. Everything on a computer can and is broken down into binary.

QUANTUM COMPUTER-IN THEORY Without getting into Quantum Mechanics, the easiest way to explain a quantum computer is again with the switch metaphor. Imagine you turn your switch from on to off, but stop half way in the middle. The switch isn’t in a third position-there can only be two. The switch is between positions. What does that mean? It does not mean that a quantum computer works with 1’s, 0’s and 2’s. It means that when a switch is between 1 and 0, or true and false, it isn’t either of them. It’s undecided.

QUANTUM COMPUTER-WHY Quantum Computers are very useful at solving problems involving probability, like what someone will do or what the market will to in a span of time. Quantum Computers will not make a game run faster, or make a YouTube video stop freezing (try refreshing the page). At no point in games today is there need to have an in-between state in calculations. If anything, getting yourself a quantum computer will likely cause you more problems than not, especially in your wallet.

QUANTUM COMPUTER-HOW Because of a lot of very smart people doing some very terrifying math and complicated experiments, we know that particles, which make up all matter, teleport from place to place. That isn’t the weird bit. When a particle is in a Quantum State, it can exist in two places at once. Sound familiar? It’s the in- between light switch from earlier. It’s both on and off. Quantum Computers would function by observing where particles are, and manipulating that location. They would rely heavily on particles that are in two places at once.

QUANTUM COMPUTER-WHO One company that is taken the leap into quantum computers is D-Wave Systems. The company was founded in 1999 and is a leader in the felid of Quantum Computers. They employ computer scientists, engineers and physicists in order to pursue there goal. IBM is also developing quantum computing, and has even got the U.S. Department of Defense interested enough to contribute funding towards there project, mostly for it’s code breaking capabilities.

QUANTUM COMPUTER-WHEN Quantum Computers exist today, however they are very expensive and are meant for specialized calculations, not personal use. Many companies are working on making a working home quantum computer, however it is unknown when they will be released onto the market.