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This morning in The Insider was an article about a Google Quantum Computer project[^]. I've seen articles and blogs about them quite a lot recently.
I am both very curious and very afraid for these computers...
I'm not very good at math and I pretty much hate it to a point where I cannot function properly when math is involved.
But I understand 0's and 1's (mostly, anyway), so I got that going for me, which is nice.
What I do not understand are superpositions and complex numbers. And since counting to 1 is probably the most I'll ever achieve in terms of math I was wondering how fast these quantum computers will conquer the world.
Should I find a new job? Or could I support legacy systems using 0's and 1's until I'm at my retirement age (still about 41 years to go)? Or do you think quantum computers will rule the world, but the math behind it will be mostly abstracted away for application developing programmers?
At least I'll know what to tell my customers[^] 
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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I’m looking forward to the next generation computer after the one you mentioned when they discover a computer that operates on the base 4 numbering system utilizing the molecules adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine to produce a variety of computational structures capable of 1,000 terabytes or more. That’ll be awesome. It's being developed even now. 
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Does that mean I'll have to count to four? 
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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Sander Rossel wrote: Does that mean I'll have to count to four?
Don't worry. You can borrow someone's fingers if you run out.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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At least I get your signature (but only because I have 1010 fingers)
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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I want a base 10 computer...it's about time these machines adapt to us!
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I'm sure that practical quantum computers will be just as transparent as the current lot; ie, if you can function without math now, you'll be fine in the future. After all, there's no evidence to suggest that people are getting smarter, and no one with a lick of business savvy will make a product for people who aren't likely to exist.
Will Rogers never met me.
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I can see the error messages now:
"You might have an error"
"Your file existed right up to the time we validated it, then it disappeared."
"Press any key to continue ... or not."
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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NullOrNotNullReferenceException 
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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Sander Rossel wrote: I'm not very good at math and I pretty much hate it to a point where I cannot function properly when math is involved.
I think I may have spotted the problem.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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So have I, that's why I'm worried
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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Sure. Worrying is easier than solving the problem, right?
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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That's what the mathematicians seem to be thinking, I'm still waiting for them to fix math!
Seriously though, I guess you're right. The biggest struggle is with myself, not with math.
I could do it if I put some effort into it, but somehow whenever I start, even with the best intentions, math always seems to make me angry and desperate.
I'm not sure where it comes from...
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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Math anxiety[^], most likely. I have it too.
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
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Didn't know it existed, but it sounds about right...  
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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I'm about to predict the future of IT, and we all know how well that works.
But anyway, quantum computers will probably for a long time be large expensive things mostly used to simulate quantum systems. A couple of integers will be factored (but mostly as benchmarks), some simulated annealing will be done (because it tackles such a wide range of problems), and a couple of other things, but the killer app would be quantum systems, for physics and chemistry.
Later, when they finally manage to make them small/cheap enough for more casual use, you're probably just going to use some library that you can hand your data and magic happens. Probably in the quantum cloud. The quantum desktop .. maybe. I'm not convinced the average user needs that kind of power for anything ever, but that kind of prediction is usually wrong. Maybe we'll simulate physically-accurate photons just to render our games or something.
And there won't be a switch to quantum computing, it'll be extra. Conventional computing will remain relevant.
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harold aptroot wrote: Maybe we'll simulate physically-accurate photons just to render our games or something
That sounds like we could make some beautiful isometric 2D RPG's 
By the way, I recently came upon your name when searching for the tracklist of the Knights Of Merchants soundtrack (downloaded from GOG).
Could that be you?
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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Probably, but I'm not sure why I'd show up when searching for a tracklist.
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I guess I eventually came on a KaM remake site. I was probably searching for the composer of the songs and went through some credits. Then found your name?
I never found out who composed the songs.
It's an OO world.
public class SanderRossel : Lazy<Person>
{
public void DoWork()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
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As the number of problems to solve with current technology is almost limitless, I don't think you'll have a problem. Understanding quantum algorithms will only be important for problems that dwarf the current regime in complexity. Even if quantum computers become commonplace, you can still get the current level or better of performance out of them with the current idioms. Classical Mechanics is still an excellent approximation for most cases.
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My article[^] won the second prize in the Best Mobile Article of April 2014. I did not nominate my article, nor was aware of the fact that it was part of the competition. Surprised me 
Proof[^]
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Hard work actually pays off on this site 
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Thanks Kenneth , yes it does.
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Veni, vidi, vici.
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