Quantum Computing is Here

Here's yet another sign of what's coming.

First Electronic Quantum Processor Created

ScienceDaily (2009-06-29) -- Researchers have created the first rudimentary solid-state quantum processor, and used the two-qubit superconducting chip to successfully run elementary algorithms, demonstrating quantum information processing with a solid-state device for the first time.



We are still operating on two-dimensional integrated circuits. We know we can enhance these capabilities by computing in three dimensions. We have already looked further than that, and have begun to develop molecular computing. Yet now, already, we have a rudimentary quantum computer? We still have two computational paradigms to progress through, yet it seems we're set to plug straight on through to the nano-level sooner than before.

Now that we finally have a breakthrough, we should start to see a huge jump in quantum computing technology within the next few years. Remember that the high-tech community functions in a capitalist society, so the organizations naturally act as rational egoists. Whether the goal of the organization is money or prestige, the same rules apply. The community will distribute its collective efforts between competing new technology given their probabilistic effectiveness. So if a technology is about 70% likely to yield results, 70% of the firms in that industry will research and develop that technology. Also, if a technology is only 10% likely to be effective, 10% of the community will study it. This creates an efficient community that spurs on progress, as it ensures that even the unlikeliest of theories will be represented if the community is large enough.

Up until yesterday, when the paper was published, computing on the quantum level was considered completely impractical, though theoretically possible. Now that probability has necessarily increased, and though obviously impossible to measure, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the community gets on board.

Today will go down as just one more of the important moments in the build up to the singularity, whatever it ends up implying.