What is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computing is the next technical innovation of modern and supercomputers. These new machines are not available for purchase yet, but there is currently a technical arms race among leading tech companies that want to develop the fastest quantum computer. Current data suggests that there is a technology firm in China that has the quickest quantum computer. Other companies like Google and Intel have their versions as well, and they are constantly looking for ways to innovate them.
Now that we have asserted that quantum computing is going to be one of the most popular technical innovations for current and future developers, it is important to distinguish its capabilities from its predecessors.
Modern computers are more widely used than super and quantum computers. The devices are what we use at home, most likely what would be used at an office or other place of employment, they are the typical machines that make up almost 100% of the available devices in the marketplace. They are often available at a variety of price points, from the popular and inexpensive Google Chromebook that manages computing resources from the Google Chrome browser to the most expensive iMac with its seemingly endless amount of storage and processing power. Even though the latter device has more computing resources, they both have something in common: at both device’s very core, they are comprised of a matrix of 1’s and 0’s. Today’s supercomputers, with all of their technical resources as well, are also made up of a field of 1’s and 0’s. Due to this binary composition, it is safe to assert that modern and supercomputers work best when the user is operating one application at a time. Both of these types of computers will have a reduced processing speed when users open more than one application.
Therefore, quantum computing is the next step in computer technical evolution, as its goal is to maintain processing speeds while running multiple applications and solve computational issues faster than a modern or supercomputer. While each of these computers will apply algorithms, quantum computers have the capability to run multiple algorithms simultaneous, which will give them the ability to launch complex applications that simply would not be possible on a modern or supercomputer.
Quantum computing has real-world applications. When quantum computers are made available on the market, consumers will be able to access them at the same marketplaces that they buy today’s technology. These users will find that it is more convenient during times where they need to launch multiple applications. Theoretically. the users should be able to launch a calculator, calendar, e-mail, video-editing software, an internet browser and word documents all at the same time without any significant reduction in processing speeds.
Quantum computing features a more complex matrix of 1’s and 0’s. They will become the best solution for companies and governments to manage their critical infrastructures (CIs) like the electric grid, water supply, transportation, communication networks and other areas. CIs are typically managed by supercomputers and an internet connection to the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) controls and the programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Quantum computing will make SCADA controls and PLCs more secure than its technical predecessors.
When Quantum computing becomes the norm, technology users, companies and governments will find that information technology and cybersecurity will become more secure and accessible.