Trump administration establishes $75M quantum computing centers • Hacker News Board

Re: Trump administration establishes $75M quantum computing centers

#141

Post by dr_dshiv » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 1:15 PM UTC

ahelwer wrote: post #54

dr_dshiv wrote: post #31

Someone needs to invest in developing improved mental models for quantum computers. Much of the development of classical computing (particular from a user perspective) was driven by metaphors: memory, stacks, pipes, files, folders, etc. What are useful metaphors in the application or use of quantum computers?

Quantum computers are modeled with extremely basic linear algebra. Quantum states are vectors and gates are matrices which multiply those vectors to get new vectors. How much simpler do you want? You can explain most of it as rotations around the unit circle which we all learn in high school or earlier. The problem is pop science crap that tries to explain superposition and entanglement with complete word salad inste…

I'm not necessarily asking for better metaphors of quantum phenomena. But the opportunities or affordances of quantum computers is extremely unclear, even to experts. It's like explaining the physics of a transistor to someone and waiting for them to come up with an app design.

Taking the analogy of a GPU, how would you describe what a quantum coprocessor could do for a specialist (in, say, neuroscience or material science)? What kind of datasets would be appropriate? How should they think about what can be done with quantum processing? That's where I think there is room for metaphor development.

Re: Trump administration establishes $75M quantum computing centers

#142

Post by _-david-_ » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 3:09 PM UTC

germinalphrase wrote: post #140

_-david-_ wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The explicit purpose of a uniform is to associate an individual with an organization (e.g. the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Prison, etc) that vests them with specific authorities - for example, the authority to detain and charge citizens with crimes. Nice job changing the goal posts. >These actors in Portland do not wear patches, badges, names, or other identifying features that associate t…

> Nice job changing the goal posts. Hardly. You contend that these actors are wearing uniforms. I argue that camouflage is generic and doesn’t serve the purpose of a uniform as it doesn’t indicate under what authority they serve. > Are you sure? I have heard there actually are badges on the uniforms. I have only seen pictures and videos on my phone so I could not tell personally if that is the case. It is being widel…

>It is being widely reported as such, yes. Additionally, new federal legislation has been put forward just in the last week to require federal officers to wear identification in the future.

I'll ask again. Do you have a video or picture? I have heard that these uniforms do in fact have a badge and identification on them.

Allegedly these officers did identify themselves when they made the arrests but due to the sounds (like people shouting at the officers) we cannot hear it on tape.

> This is precisely my point.

Every uniform and badge can be copied and sold to other people. If it becomes illegal to have a fake uniform people could still buy them illegally. Cops will also sometimes sell their old vehicles so even if they roll up in a police car you wouldn't know. It would also be possible to paint a car to look like a police car as well.

It sounds like it is impossible to ever arrest somebody without you complaining that there is no way to know if the person is legit. What is your solution to this problem? Never arrest anybody?

Re: Trump administration establishes $75M quantum computing centers

#143

Post by ahelwer » Sat, Jul 25, 2020, 1:58 PM UTC

dr_dshiv wrote: post #141

ahelwer wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quantum computers are modeled with extremely basic linear algebra. Quantum states are vectors and gates are matrices which multiply those vectors to get new vectors. How much simpler do you want? You can explain most of it as rotations around the unit circle which we all learn in high school or earlier. The problem is pop science crap that tries to explain superposition and entanglement with complete word salad inste…

I'm not necessarily asking for better metaphors of quantum phenomena. But the opportunities or affordances of quantum computers is extremely unclear, even to experts. It's like explaining the physics of a transistor to someone and waiting for them to come up with an app design. Taking the analogy of a GPU, how would you describe what a quantum coprocessor could do for a specialist (in, say, neuroscience or material s…

The short answer is that all of this info is out there, but it doesn't live in pop science articles.

For materials scientists the value proposition is clear: quantum computers will enable efficient quantum chemistry simulations. Here is an overview paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.10402