[MD] Quantum computing

[David M]

Hi Magnus

I think that's a very good bet. Quantum calculations
have to deal with possible states and not just actual
ones. The analogies and possible identities with what
minds do will be unavoidable.

David M


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Magnus Berg" <McMagnus at home.se>
To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:16 PM
Subject: [MD] Quantum computing


Hi there

I'd better start by reintroducing myself. I'm Magnus Berg from Sweden and 
has
been lurking here for so long that I guess most of you here have never seen 
me
post. On the other hand, I recognize many of the current posters so I guess 
some
of you will remember me.

Anyway, as some of you might remember, I'm a computer guy and I just saw 
that a
new quantum computer is being demoed today. I'm afraid I was unable to 
attend
the demo physically, but their site is very interesting, and pretty MoQ:ish
actually.

Just read this (from 
http://www.dwavesys.com/index.php?page=quantum-computing)
(my *emphasis*)

"We now know that Turing was only partially correct. Not all computers are
equivalent. His work was based on an assumption — that computation and
information were abstract entities, divorced from the rules of physics 
governing
the behavior of the computer itself.

One of the most important developments in modern science is the realization 
that
information (and computation) can never exist in the abstract. *Information 
is
always tied to the physical stuff upon which it is written.* What is 
possible to
compute is completely determined by the rules of physics.

Turing's work, and conventional computer science, are only valid if a 
computer
obeys the rules of Newtonian physics — the set of rules that apply to large 
and
hot things, like baseballs and humans. If elements of a computer behave
according to different rules, such as the rules of QM, this assumption fails 
and
many very interesting possibilities emerge."


When quantum computers become more common, I think they will start provoking
philosophical questions in much the same lines we're doing here.

Any takers?

Magnus


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