Two Key Advances Bring Quantum Computers Closer to Reality Than Ever

So I wonder how far off sales of a functioning QuCPU will be?

ROFL, computers have come a long way since then eh? From punched out IBM cards and 'obese' code to quantum mechanics with a molecule being in 2 states at once, representing both 1's and 0's. Well, its not marketable to the general public yet, but I'm sure time heals everything. :)

A year ago I would have said keep dreaming, it's like the fusion of the computer world but based on a whole slew of advances in this field in the past 2 years I'd have to say within ten to fifteen years, at least for government/corporate/university use. Wouldn't count on a quantum iPhone for at least a few decades though.

they need to somehow outperform current computer architectures. current microprocessrs serve us well in many cases. if it ain't broken don't fix it.

@highermorals Just because something works doesn't mean we shouldn't try to find something better.

Silicone has reached it's limit as a CPU medium,(electron tunneling anyone?) that is why they are packing more cores into the CPU in lieu of significant increases in clock speeds. A new medium,(diamond?)or a CPU that works far more efficiently that current architecture will be needed sooner rather than later.

Yes, John von Neumann was a rather talented "engineer", wasn't he, Ms Boyle?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

i am a bit confused, didn't an article on here announce D-Wave's Quantum Computer last may http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-05/lockheed-martin-buying-one-d-waves-brand-new-quantum-computers do they exist or not?

I think this new quantum processor is a significant development. If you look at D-Wave's pseudo-quantum computer, which does not rely of superposition of the qubits, and is special-purpose as it only solves a particular class of problems, this new processor has superposition and limited (I believe) general-purpose capability (quantum logic gates). But the major development is that it does not use photons and the accompanying tons of equipment for entanglement.

My classic computer knowledge might be on its way to being obsolete!

thanks ChipGuy, obsolete is inevitable

I just cant imagine how fast the quCPU is。 how waste if I use my quantum computer for daily stuff。Do you mind if use your iPad just as a photo frame？I'm thinking that do I really need a powerful phone with petabytes memory space。

@qinliang, Some of you ideas come across to me often as I consider a new computer or CPU for purchase. No matter how fast my computer, I still only type 30 wpm. lol.

But, I guess in other things that seem useful; like booting up quickly, expressing a variety of multimedia, games and other task that take much processing power, a fast CPU is always helpful.. ;)

I think this is the right steps towards that Jetson/Star trek world we all crave so badly. If we can get videos and Hd tv from whether somthing was either 1 or 0, so imagine whats next Holodecks & Minorit Report type interfaces galactic mapping oh yeah & all the other little things we take for granted.. I can't wait.

These are cool and all, but we're never going to see any practical use for this technology until scientists manage to figure out a way to make it work without cooling things to near absolute zero. I suspect that the day when that becomes possible is still a long way off, unfortunately. :\ Well, we can always work on perfecting neurosynaptic chips in the meantime and then build a quantum version of them later on. That would be the ultimate goal, after all - a quantum neurosynaptic processor - so we may as well get the easier half of it right first.

I am a bit of a gamer from time to time and this makes me think that when this tech is eventually perfected and put into production, aftermarket video cards may be obsolete for a while! That would be pretty nice -imo-

@BubbaGump --

If you can frame your comment only in terms of what you encounter as a home pc user, particularly if you think that your typing speed has anything to do with the matter, then you are entirely in the dark, painfully ignorant and have no idea at all what your machine can be used for.

Just a hint, Bubba: there are those of us whose interest in the potential computational power of quantum systems for things of much greater import than your ability to watch a porn movie in HD -- which, by the way, should be more a function of the quality of your GPU than your CPU unless you are using an archaic graphics rendering application.

Quantum computing will bring in a new era of programming. Like punch cards were made obsolete so will be programming with modern day compilers and interfaces. Good bye windows and visual studio. Bubba in this new era you wont need to type. QuCPU's will make AI and voice recognition take a quantum leap.

This will probably be very expensive when first produced, but I can't wait!! The next generation of computing, Processing at the speed of light!!!! Imagine the possible applications of quantum computers!!! =D

@QIII, Sir, I wrote 2 paragraphs. I was speaking to the person about me and relating to the fact of life, and I meant this in a funny and light way, " no matter how fast computers become, I still only find myself typing 30wpm ".

Then in my second paragraph hints towards how a faster computer would be useful.

Perhaps you heard of Microsoft Windows and the introduction of GUI? For the general public at large, it has been the graphic interface that helps make the home experience to computers so available and useful. GUI and GRAPHICS is probably the single one thing that made all home computers popular and available. I guess for you and maybe you are of a younger age it seems common place and so you overlook the obvious. We humans relate mostly to graphics in this world. It is even said that most communication is not so much with words but how we express them physically. Now consider how helpful graphics are then. It takes vision and perception to enjoy visual clues. Take care.

@BubbaGump --

I have been a computer professional since the early 70s.

And, again, your post in response to mine indicates a very limited understanding of what computers are useful for. You came right back to the personal computer.

By the way, Bubba, even on your PC your GPU is useful for much, much more than HD porn flicks.

Research the term GPGPU.

@Mathprof - Splitting hairs, I know, but if you read the link you provided.... Neumann held a degree in chemical 'engineering', as well as consulting for an electrical 'engineering' school.

i love this. a step closer to the Singularity.

_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.

- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri

The stories of human-computer hybrids have always been fodder for sci-fi. Now, two brand new advancements in science have introduced the possibility of biological computers much closer than they have been before. Two new developments bring biological computing closer than ever. These developments and others have been making the possibility of biologically compatible computers more likely. Medical science is especially interested in the possibility, as programmable, biologically neutral computers would be able to improve diagnostics. Medical science is not the only use for these developments, but it is sure to be one of the first uses. Truly usable, commercial biological computers are likely to be years, if not decades away. These developments, however, are two major steps toward the reality.