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IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

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Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#261
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's kind of like saying, i'm tired of political news - if we all actually die in a nuclear holocaust armegedon it will be hard to miss.

Actually, what you just said is the equivalent of saying, "We just developed a quantum computer that allows us to solve not just every physical world question we have, but every metaphysical one as well." Since you're literally comparing the end of most life on Earth, I think its fair for me to compare the development of a computer that provides limitless understanding. They're both equally ridiculous, in other words…

To be clear i am not saying they are equally likely.

In the near term (next 5-10 years) the end of the world/WW3 is much more likely than a quantum computer that can solve crypto as in use today (Say RSA 2048bit). I would say orders of magnitude more likely. That's not saying that nuclear war is likely, its just a statement about how unlikely practical implementation of shor algorithm is in the near term based on where we are today.

However, that said, its kind of besides the point. The point of the comparison is both events are really unlikely. Quibiling if its 1 in a million or 1 in hundred thousand is besides the point.

The news is interesting because its a step in that direction. Just like how news about destabilizing world events are interesting even if they aren't literal full war. Its a step on a path. The destination is decades away.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#262
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's kind of like saying, i'm tired of political news - if we all actually die in a nuclear holocaust armegedon it will be hard to miss.

It's not like political news. It's like new battery tech news.

If this was the 1600s and nobody had made a working battery yet, i would find battery tech news very interesting even if it was of the quasi-theoretical, only works in a lab, variety.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#263
post #250
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Synthetic meat of all kinds, ARM based processors, deep learning + AI, agtech/vertical farming/etc.

> ARM based processors Compared to most of the other things listed, this is more of a nerd-aestheticism thing rather than something which is hugely important technologically.

But haven’t ARM based processors put already computers in billions of peoples hands that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access otherwise? I could argue that is hugely important.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#264
post #149
post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cray supercomputers were also aesthetically beautiful machines: https://cdn.britannica.com/11/23611-050-81E61C8A/Cray-1-supe... So happy to be able to find a picture of the wirewrap inside: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e2/d2/47/e2d2...

The computer history museum has a CRAY you can see very close ( https://computerhistory.org/ ). Worth the visit.

NSA museum has one too, along with a partial CM-1 lit up.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#265
post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cray supercomputers were also aesthetically beautiful machines: https://cdn.britannica.com/11/23611-050-81E61C8A/Cray-1-supe... So happy to be able to find a picture of the wirewrap inside: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e2/d2/47/e2d2...

To this day, whenever I hear the term "supercomputer", I can only visualize the Cray. I don't want to know what the latest supercomputer looks like, because I suspect it's just another boring bunch of rack aisles. Maybe with a snazzy color end-cap or blue LEDs on the doors. Bring back the impractical, space-eating circular design! I don't care about space efficiency. It's supposed to look cool.

I'm a big fan of some of the graphics you see on the big rack farms too. Like the Jaguar art Cray used a decade or so back.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

0.141" semi-rigid coax, diameter of champions.

> 0.141" semi-rigid coax, diameter of champions. I wonder if we measure it more precisely we'll get to something closer to 1.4142135623730950488...

Close, as the ratio of the inner and outer conductor diameters, to exactly get 50 Ohms, is an irrational number.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#267
post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3D TVs will come of age once autostereoscopic displays reach the right level of quality. After being blown away by my first glimpse of a display in around 1998 I fully expected them to be useable years ago. I guess we might still be another "10 years" away. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autostereoscopy

I really doubt that there's going to be huge desire for 3D TVs at any point. People can already look at video on a 2D display and interpret 3D visuals from it. And if you want to be fully immersed in something, maybe you want VR instead.

I want 3D TV for sports but apparently I'm the only one.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#268

Tangential question, what are the areas of technology where we can expect to see substantial progress or breakthroughs within 2030, i.e. what are the most exciting areas to follow and look forward to? Here's my list: - Nuclear fusion (Helion, ZAP, TAE, Tokamak Energy, CFS, Wendelstein). - Self-driving cars. - New types of nuclear fission reactors. - Spaceflight (SpaceX Starship). - Supersonic airplanes (Boom). - Soli…

Non animal food. Will transform land use. Remote education. Available to any kid or adult anywhere.

I think we're learning the limits of screen-based education now. There's something about being in the same room with a person at a chalkboard that is far more effective - at least anecdotally. (I'd be surprised if there wasn't research backing this up). And this seems deeply unfortunate if true, because it means the cost of learning can't go all the way to the ground.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#269
post #107

Tangential question, what are the areas of technology where we can expect to see substantial progress or breakthroughs within 2030, i.e. what are the most exciting areas to follow and look forward to? Here's my list: - Nuclear fusion (Helion, ZAP, TAE, Tokamak Energy, CFS, Wendelstein). - Self-driving cars. - New types of nuclear fission reactors. - Spaceflight (SpaceX Starship). - Supersonic airplanes (Boom). - Soli…

Sadly I'd also qualify most of these as things that consumers are overly excited about but will never reach their expected potential (at least in our lifetimes) due to technological limits. Same as flying cars, 3D TVs, 3D printing, household robots, holograms, AR glasses.

>flying cars At least you can buy them now.

Re: IBM unveils 127-qubit quantum processor

#270
post #212
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The computer history museum has a CRAY you can see very close ( https://computerhistory.org/ ). Worth the visit.

You’ve just given me my weekend plans, thank you very much! They have a working IBM 1401 that you can see in action too!

Also a truly astonishingly beautiful babbage engine. I came from the UK to CA to see it.
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