Are there any problems in math which, if solved, would immediately impact technology? Doesn't matter which type of technology.
Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
1–6 of 6 posts
Re: Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
#2Prove P != NP
Re: Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
#3I don't think it works that way. It's not math that's the problem, there are some brilliant mathematicians working as developers.
I think it's more like spotting an opportunity and having the technical skills to execute.
I mean, I guess if you count hacking HN ranking system = immediate impact Technology?
Re: Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
#4Find better quantum error correcting codes, and quantum computers will show up that much faster.
Re: Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
#5Prove P != NP
Or more exciting, p = np
Re: Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?
#6I don't think it works that way. It's not math that's the problem, there are some brilliant mathematicians working as developers. I think it's more like spotting an opportunity and having the technical skills to execute. I mean, I guess if you count hacking HN ranking system = immediate impact Technology?
> I don't think it works that way.
Sure it does. With new mathematical discoveries, there come direct and immediate consequences to the technologies built using previous assumptions - which will now either be validated or invalidated.
If, for example, prime factorization is proven to be not computationally difficult, invalidating the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_RSA_assumption, and somebody publishes a practical method, then most of the world's cryptography systems utilizing RSA would be hacked immediately.