What is quantum computing?

Computers are getting faster, better, and smaller but there are limits. Or are there?

What is the next step in computer technology? Quantum computing can get a little confusing. If you're new to the topic, let's take a look together!

All things (matter) are made up of smaller parts: chemical elements, molecules, atoms, and even smaller subatomic parts (particles).

We can compare the behavior of matter at different scales/sizes:

PARTICLE Picture a tennis ball being thrown at a wall, we know it will hit the wall and bounce consistently because of the size, materials, and forces of nature (gravity, etc) and if we did it 1000 times it would always do the same thing.

QUANTUM PARTICLE

On a subatomic scale, all the rules or forces of nature stop being predictable. A quantum particle (a very tiny piece of matter), when thrown at a wall, sometimes bounces and other times it randomly goes through the wall.

All data on computers are made up of smaller pieces of information called bits represented by ones and zeros. For example, on this device, you see the word cat but the computer is reading 01100011 01100001 01110100 and then converts it into readable text for us. This string of ones and zeros is called Binary.

BITS

Bits of data are stored using magnets currently because they have a north and south pole. When the magnet points up, it's read as a 1, and when it points down, it's a zero. Above, you can see that bits can only have 2 options (states): "on or off", "up or down", "1 or 0".

QUBITS

Quantum bits are similar. If a particle spins right, it's a 1. If it spins left, it's a 0. This means we can use particles to store data instead of larger magnetic materials. Unlike bits, these particles can spin in both directions simultaneously (called superposition) until measured and we can see a 1 or 0.

Comparing traditional binary computers and qubit computers:

BINARY CALCULATION

• Done in a set order

• Takes more time

• Cost much less and prices are decreasing

• Has a limit to how small devices can be

• Accessible to more people

QUBIT CALCULATION

• All calculations happen at the same time

• Most effective at searching large databases

• Thousands of times faster than a traditional computer

• Still experimental

• Only accessible to large companies

Estimated annual spending on quantum computing ($ millions)

WORLDWIDE QUANTUM INVESTMENTS (2016)

This video provides an alternate description of quantum computing's impacts on business, more information about parts of computers, and future applications:

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