A beginner's guide to quantum computing | Shohini Ghose

A quantum computer isn't just a more powerful version of the computers we use today; it's something else entirely, based on emerging scientific understanding -- and more than a bit of uncertainty. Enter the quantum wonderland with TED Fellow Shohini Ghose and learn how this technology holds the potential to transform medicine, create unbreakable encryption and even teleport information.

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if the hackers break the laws of quantum physics in order to break the human laws, do they go to jail or go get a nobel prize, or both ?

[stevek]

So basically the quantum computer waits until the user plays and just always picks the outcome where the computer wins? Yeah, sound like Vegas.

[aslama.m.]

"the future is fundamentally uncertain but certainly exciting "...WOW!

[dionsilverman]

I really like her final thought about not seeing quantum physics just as a tool to build quantum computers, but quantum computers as a tool to better understand quantum physics and the nature of the Universe.

[melty]

To sum up:
“It’s very complicated.”
“It’s so complicated that we can’t actually explain it other than stating that it’s non binary”
“It’s so complicated that it can change the way the world works”
“If you don’t get it, you’re beginning to understand it”

[RussellCatchpole]

I must have missed the bit where she explained how quantum computing works :-(

[Timlagor]

The coin-flipping thing told me absolutely nothing about how quantum computers work

[GeorgeMuammar]

It must be a superposition of an explanation and a non-explanation

[howtofordummies]

User: Hey computer what's 2+2?
Quantum Comp: wouldn't you like to know..

[puzzleperson]

A physicist friend of mine loves this quote...”if you say that you completely understand quantum physics, then it is obvious that you know nothing of quantum physics.” So, kudos to you for helping the masses at least understand a tiny part of it! I find the entire matter the most fascinating endeavor in science.

[aryandivyanshu]

Hi, future people.
I knew you will come back to this classic computer to check your innovation's past.
Just don't forget that we have gems called memes, preserve them, they are very precious.

[PJ]

Person: "Excuse me, sir"
Quantum computer: "It's MA'AM!"

[st.deykun]

Quantum computing NOT explained in 10 minutes

[JJ-kleq]

Thanks for making that quick. I can now relax in a quantum of solace.

[haydenhoodless]

Actually I did kind of get this. We know that modern computers work with bits representing 1s and 0s and combinations of them to represent data. Bits can only ever be a 1 or a 0, but never both at the same time, the same as when you flip a coin and see the result, you can't have heads and tails at the same time. With a quantum computer however, bits can be both 1 and 0 at the same time. If you understand Schrodinger's cat, it's basically the same principle, it's only when you look into the box will you see whether the cat is dead or not, but you can never know the answer until that, so you have to accept both possibilities at the same time. That's why quantum encryption is unhackable, because even if you manage to "see" the data in it's quantum form, it's kinda like you're trying to figure out whether the cat is dead or not.


If you ever delve deep enough into chemistry and physics, you might have heard that, rather than orbit the nucleus like a planet in a predictable path, it's kind of impossible know where exactly an electron is, it's at every point around the nucleus at the same time whilst also not being there as well. *mind explodes*.


The fact that we struggle with these mind boggling concepts and pinpoint things is precisely why the quantum computer is useful. It's bits behave the same way. That's why it's useful for chemistry, because it imitate the behaviour of atoms in the same black magic way, we can model reactions without having to worry about the infinite crazy possibilities the direction of a particle might fly off to, and then translate the important information to us in a digestible format.


At least that's what I'm getting.

[bbahal]

Wow. Even after 2 years of this talk being on net, I was amazed to think what future has in store for us. Very good Ms Ghose

[Stallnig]

this doesn't explain much about how it works at all.

[abelkips]

Amitab bachan in the movie sholay had the quantum physics coin.

[gameveiwer]

Is it heads or tails?
Quantum Computer: Both

[d.e]

I'm looking forward learning more (and understanding in my own way, by being confused) about this topic that lures and fascinates me and I consider Shohini Ghose managed to speak about a large scale of it in a beautiful way.