The threshold

Recent findings (1) that we are getting closer to practical quantum information processing is exciting  news for everybody. The self proclaimed futurists and Nobel prize seeking physicists have had their heads in the clouds for decades – envisioning space travel and unification. Nothing has been forthcoming except irrelevant papers and ignorant speculations. The Georgia Tech experiment is important in that it is bridging the gap to the leap – the only leap this generation has any chance of accomplishing. Our 15 minutes of fame has to be the implementation of Quantum computing – a full century later after the theory was proposed.

Practical quantum computing will change everything – and possibly redeem the status quo from the depths of incompetence – in every conceivable dimension. Quantum computing has the potential to change many dimensions – a true step function change that will take computing power out of the critical and constraining path to innovation. Such a regime should usher in fundamental changes – in healthcare, engineering and technology. The real change is figuring out if humans can and should live 1000s of years and not just incrementally extending their painful life a few more months. The real change is figuring out if humans can transport themselves instantly across space and time and not shoving themselves into aluminum tubes that go across the globe faster. The real change is finding out if humans can connect the 7 billion people together in a network of ideas and get away from turf wars and religious ignorance.

Can we step up? Will we reach the threshold?

New technique efficiently creates single photons for quantum information processing. Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 15:37 in Physics & Chemistry .Source: Georgia Institute of Technology Research News