The early age of human technology consist of our brains, fire, stone and sharp sticks. Years go by and our old human technology (fire, stones and sharp sticks) became nuclear weapons and power plants while our brain power grew to empower other brain-like machine to think for us. In other to do this, humans invented the computer. Before we continue, let me give a simple computer definition;
A computer is a machine that takes input carries out a chain of instruction and produces an output. A conventional digital computer receives instructions in 1s and 0s called bits.
Since the 1960s, the computing power (brain power) of a computer has been growing exponentially while the sizes have been reducing along with it, thereby making computers smaller and powerful (like the smaller it is, the more powerful it becomes).
A computer has a main memory that receives arithmetic units and processes it through a control unit. A computer chip contains simple basic modules which contains logic gates and transistors which is the simplest form of a data processor in a computer which allows data/information in or out. The information or instructions allowed into a computer are called bits which are in 1s or 0s (like I previously said) and a combination of several bits are used when representing complex data.
pixabay
Quantum computer is exactly like a conventional computer but in this case, instructions are received in quantum bits. Instead of utilizing 1s and 0s, Quantum computer qubit uses complex mathematics of quantum mechanics which allows for more possibilities. Unlike traditional computers that operates in bits of 1s or 0s, quantum computer uses either 1 or 0 or both simultaneously.
Qubits are made up of two level quantum system which could be a spins of electron in a magnetic field as well as photon. Unlike regular computer, information on quantum computers don’t have to any of 1s or 0s, it can be both and that is called Superposition which allows multiple computation at once. For regular bits to the power of 4 different configuration giving 16 possible combinations of which only one can be used, for qubits superposition to the power of four different configuration giving 16 possible combinations, the 16 combinations can be choosing at once. So with 20 qubits, we have a million value stored in parallel. Also one amazing thing about qubits is the ability to change based on the state of the other qubit instantaneously called entanglement.
Flickr
Quantum computer are going to be faster safer and better way of solving computing arithmetic problems, other impressive importance of quantum computer is simulating molecular bonds, as well as factoring large numbers very quickly. Since we are living in an era of large data usage, quantum computing ability to analyze large data very fast is one impressive use of quantum computer.
Unlike conventional computers, quantum computing is said to be more power efficient due to quantum tunneling and at such power consumption by the computer should be reduced about 1000 times.
With quantum computers, language learning and machine learning for artificial intelligence (AI) could be faster thereby speeding up the learning process.
The evolution of computer technology is fascinating and quantum computer is not left out. Quantum computers can do a lot of things but at the same time a few hiccups have made the conventional digital computer still in existence. Conventional computers are easily used for simple tasks like sending a mail while they aren’t suitable for quantum computers which are useful for solving high complicated problem. Also, cold temperature is needed for quantum computers to be stable.
