In the final article in a series about supercomputing, Dazed & Confused technology editor Chris Hatherill explores the latest exciting breakthroughs in quantum computing, which could make our machines millions of times faster and render today’s supercomputers obsolete…
Our world has become one of 1s and 0s. On or off. Bits and bytes – first kilo, then mega, now giga. As Moore’s Law marches on, promising a doubling in computer power every two years, the future seems easy enough to predict: you just draw a straight line going up and presto, you can determine exactly how fast your PS6 will be in 2016 – though what games we’ll be playing is another matter. Now, though, researchers are making serious breakthroughs in a field that could change everything. 1s and 0s could be replaced with numbers that can be both 1s and 0s at the same time, computer power could increase exponentially and today’s supercomputers could become obsolete overnight.
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The key to the brave new world lies in the strange and murky world of quantum physics, a strange place where parallel universes exist and it’s possible to be in two places at the same time – you have to trust them on this one. It’s the latter property – formally known as ‘quantum superpositioning’ – that allows for quantum bits, or qubits, which researchers pronounce ‘quibit’ because they think it’s ‘wacky’. Unlike the regular old bits which run our PS3s, mobile phones and Bluetooth-enabled toasters, qubits can be either 1, or 0, or both at the same time. A sequence of three bits can be any one of eight combinations, like 000, 001, 010, etc. Three qubits, on the other hand, can store 8 different numbers at once. And four qubits can store 16 different numbers at once. And so on and so on, until you get to 300 qubits, which is apparently enough to store every atom in the universe.
As lost as we are, the key thing to remember is that quantum computers are way faster because the can carry out multiple calculations at once – the same way you can eat cheese on toast, mumble into your phone and play Drake’s at the same time. The trouble is keeping quantum computers ‘quantum’ long enough to do calculations. Any interference from our real world messes up the quantum world, and so far researchers have only been able to isolate quantum computers for very short bursts.
A Canadian company called D-Wave unveiled a quantum-y computer called “Orion” earlier this year, but it’s generally accepted that it isn’t a true quantum computer – yet. But there is hope. Initial estimates of “50-60 years” were recently revised thanks to a breakthrough in the way light is handled. Researchers at the universities of Salford and Surrey have managed to “trap a rainbow” and in essence stop light itself. There’s a good piece on it here, but the exciting bit for quantum computing is the possibility of optical qubits, a much more manageable proposition. While quantum computers would presumably first be used in the same way supercomputers are today, logic dictates that such computing power would eventually find its way into the little black box underneath your TV. And when that happens, who knows where future PlayStations will be able to take you.
This was the last in a series of articles about supercomputers. Previous issues can be found here:
I’ve loved reading about supercomputers on Threespeech. Maybe u could make a book?
Thanks Chris Hatherill and thanks threespeech!
Comment by E-ROLE — Nov 28, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Swear that 5 was the last one….
Well I won’t complain!
Comment by JohnSketch — Nov 28, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
also have enjoyed these articles a lot. would be good if you could do something on gaming’s history. y’know the untold stories
Comment by Imagini x — Nov 28, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
I’m impressed. a quantum-y article without an undead cat in it.
quantumgratulations.
Comment by Draxredd — Nov 28, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
There is no cat in the box…
JohnSketch peeks in the box - “yes there is…..”
There is NO cat in the box…
JohnSketch peeks in the box again - “yes there is…”
THERE IS NO CAT IN THE BOX!!!…
Comment by JohnSketch — Nov 28, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Good luck getting developers to get to grips with that new hardware ;P
btw the cat is only half-dead, unless you touch it
Comment by Geoff — Nov 28, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
I apologise for the off topic but everyone must have a look at this.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/11/27/ever-wonder-whos-reading-all-those-comments/
over on the official US blog.
A guy called Jeff Rubensyein actually READS the comments and ANSWERS the question therein.
Amazing I know but it’s true.
Comment by Ton Capone — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
@7 i reckon threespeech do this pretty well in an informal sort of way. they’re definitely listening… it’s down to sony to give em a bit more clout. they’ve got to keep the conversation going with us
Comment by Rukusa — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
The US blog guy is a social media manager and he has a name not a faceless reply by something called Threespeech.
His is a dedicated position to reading and answering queries and concerns, his replies are highlighted in red and so are easily distinguishable from the rest of the posts and he also replies very frequently.
Comment by Ton Capone — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
@ Ton - Good idea on the answering in colour - might be something to look into. We do answer questions as many users will testify and we do get back in touch, both on forum and via email. Colour though *strokes chin*….
Comment by Three Speech — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Well they’ve always got back to my queries very swiftly… with a name ‘n’ all!!!!
Comment by Rukusa — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
What is life without a bit of colour?
Thanks for the prompt reply Threespeech, and thanks for listening.
Now back to supercomputers!
Comment by Ton Capone — Nov 28, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
@ Ton - Welcome sir.
Comment by Three Speech — Nov 28, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
No, no, and no. It is definitely not known that a quantum computer will give us an exponential spped-up compared to a classical computer for any general class of problems, even though wikipedia almost says so.
For a simple Q&A regarding quantum computers (written in the context of the D-Wave brouhaha) see the following: http://scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=198
Comment by Mikael — Nov 28, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
I like! More please!
Comment by LordOfRuin — Nov 28, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
in 2016 we will still be on PS4
Comment by snake — Nov 28, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
My goal is to convert ThreeSpeech staff to use the Colour: PINK or failing that MAGENTA
for distringuisihing themselves!
What would also be a nifty idea is allowing yours truly JohnSketch and a select few other regulars (who like myself have no lives during the day and come on here instead of working!) and post them as Moderators
.
I can dream!
Comment by JohnSketch — Nov 29, 2007 @ 2:04 am
I think that the Three Speech staff should say who they are when replying to comments. Especially as some of us regulars have met a couple of staff at 3Rooms events.
Comment by reakt — Nov 29, 2007 @ 9:49 am
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