As the world continues to advance in tech, we need to have an understanding of the broad spectrum of tech. Today, we’ll talk about quantum computing. While it may sound very complicated, I’ll explain it in a way that anyone can understand. We have to spend time to learn these difficult concepts for our future well-being.
Quantum Computing Vs. Regular Computers
We should all be familiar with regular computers by now, but if you’re not here’s a quick refresher. Computers are run on 0’s and 1’s, which are called bits. Bits are tiny pieces of information that can solve problems with calculations one step at a time. Quantum computers are similar, except they use something called qubits. Qubits are like extreme bits, these are able to use both 0’s and 1’s simultaneously. Because of this, qubits can do calculations together instead of one step at a time.
A good example of how this works is to think of how a teacher grades a student’s work. The teacher grading the student’s work by going from question 1-2-3-etc. would be an example of a regular computer (step-by-step). The teacher grading the student’s work by putting it in a machine to have it all done at once would be an example of quantum computing.
The Entanglement Rule
In quantum computing there’s a such thing as the “entanglement rule”. This rule states that qubits are connected to each other and can share information instantly. It works like an advanced pattern recognition system that works in the blink of an eye. Entanglement is a valuable tool in quantum computing because it can perform a lot faster than regular computers with information from other qubits.
Why Should You Care?
All major tech companies are working on quantum computers. IBM has said recently that “we are entering the phase of quantum computing called the era of utility“. Google has one, Microsoft has one, Amazon has one, and they are molding them (allegedly) to become the standard computer for all. Quantum computers have been seen as a waste of time to most people because of the level of difficulty to function and also the hardware. They are extremely expensive to make. But, the future may hold a place for these geniuses one day.
