D-Wave Announces Commercially Available Quantum Computer 133
New submitter peetm writes "Computing company D-Wave has announced they're selling a quantum computing system commercially, which they're calling the D-Wave One. The D-Wave system comes equipped with a 128-qubit processor designed to perform discrete optimization operations. A qubit is the basic unit of quantum information – analogous to a bit in conventional computing. For a broader understanding of how qubits work, check out Ars Technica's excellent guide."
So how many frames will this get in Crysis? (Score:1)
I'm being serious by the way. :p Whats the performance like on these things?
Re:So how many frames will this get in Crysis? (Score:5, Funny)
I would imagine that operations are instant. Unfortunately all the data gets sent to an identical 'you' in a parallel universe.......
This article is a year old! (Score:5, Funny)
Apparently, a quantum computer allows slashdot editors to see backwards in time.
Since this article was posted.....
5/17/2011 @ 2:34PM
Right, that's almost a year ago that this "announcement" took place.
Whoops!
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0 frames in Crysis, this is a math co-processor type deal initially. Just speeds up processing for a specific type of quantum algorithm initially. ( Quantum annealing , min/ max )
Re:So how many frames will this get in Crysis? (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes, but it isn't the same type that D-Wave's processor solves, which is to say solving a particular class of differential equation in up to 16 8-bit variables.
Most of the time spent in ray tracing is actually in database searching (finding objects that a ray intersects with), which can be sped up by a quantum algorithm, but it isn't one that can be implemented on D-Wave's machine.
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Umm, ray tracing is math.
All 3d rendering is based on maths, unfortunately ray tracing involves repeatedly traversing large data sets, something that any co-processor which is a long way from the main system memory bus is going to be shockingly bad at.
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You could build the ultimate Crysis bot with it.
Re:So how many frames will this get in Crysis? (Score:5, Funny)
How many frames will this get in Crysis?
All of them, at the same time. Until you look at it, at which point you'll just get one, which might not be the one you want.
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Well, Bogo sort can be done in O(n)
http://www.mathnews.uwaterloo.ca/Issues/mn11103/QuantumBogoSort.php [uwaterloo.ca]
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In at least an infinite subset of the infinite number of universes it straddles, yes - but most likely not this one.
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yet
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Yes and No
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True, first the virtual highway system will need to be completed. And then you won't live to be able to afford one - look at the Moller Skycar, it was over a half-million dollars and that price was probably optimistic. Then there's the legal shitstorm of allowing VTOL flying cars to take off and land in random places if you actually want to use it like a car and not a conventional small aircraft.
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This is the big flaw in people's desire to have flying cars. Why would I want a flying car if I can't fly it anywhere I want? That defeats the purpose.
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I'm not impatient to have a flying car crash through my roof or office window.
Stop giving the Jetson era terrorists ideas! Do you want the TSA to grope you every time you need to run to the corner store for milk?
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Quantum annealing (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Quantum annealing (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Quantum annealing (Score:4, Funny)
Sorry, I stopped reading at "should of". Hurts my eyes too much.
Re:Quantum annealing (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Quantum annealing (Score:4, Insightful)
I did. It has nothing to do with this. While pronunciation of "should've" and "should of" are phonetically similar, there simply is no such thing as "should of"(which should, of course, be clear by now).
You are attempting to cover up for this erratum by distorting information. Please stop attempting to cite archaic linguistics that you don't understand.
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This is nonsense. People contract "should have" to "should've" and ignorant people spell it "should of" instead of "should have".
It's simply wrong.
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Your signature is a lie [wikipedia.org], as "mathematics" simply refers to conceptual systems that we group together based on human categorization. Saying that "There is only one math" is like saying there is only one programming language. And yes, I understand what Turning completeness entails, but categories rely on human categorization. If you want to do any categorizing of anything, like math from general cognition, you must rely on human perceptual systems.
Although, the parent is a jerk: linguistic meaning, like ma
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The parent is right for the wrong reason. "Mathematics" is a singular word when it refers to a singular subject, the subject of mathematics, e.g., "Mathematics is a hard subject". It has nothing to do with what math itself is.
Regarding your response to me: If linguistic meaning is based on what we put into it then words can have no objective meaning and no one can communicate. The whole point of language is that we have to have a common, agreed upon rules for how it should be used and what words mean.
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Your argument should be entirely semantic. It really has nothing to do with the nature of math itself. I think your comparison to biology is much more apt than the problematic assertion that "There is only one math."
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There is a huge difference between being open-minded and being completely uncritical. People used to understand that.
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I personally don't like the "should of" either. But sometimes these things creep up on you.
And then you hit them over the head with the brass section of the nearest orchestra.
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More common?? You really need to get out of your trailer park a bit more. There's a whole world out there, you know?
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You really shouldn't of. Since English is a non-dead language, and this usage is now more common then the other, it is now the correct usage.
I could care less what idiotic changes Americans make to American English.
You have no idea how painful it was for me to write that. I know you couldn't care less, and I should have stopped myself.
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Sorry, living languages are the purest form of democracy, your 1%er mindset just doesn't get to rule here.
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Again with your top-down we'll tell you what to think and how to say it mindset. Get it through your neanderthal skull that you don't control us!
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So let's just let the language devolve into incoherent grunting and be done with it.
Accepting illogical misspelling as somehow being "right" because everyone makes a mistake will just lead to no one being able to understand anyone.... which is kind of where /. is heading anyway.
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Whoosh!
Re:Quantum annealing (Score:5, Informative)
As far as I'm aware the 128 "qubits" aren't entangled at all, which means it is useless for any of the quantum algorithms that one generally thinks of (Shor's algorithm for factoring, for example). It simply has 128 separate "qubits" that are queried individually, and is, essentially an augmented classical computer that gains a few minor advantages in some very specific algorithms (i.e. the quantum annealing algorithm) due to this qubit querying, but is otherwise indistinguishable from a really expensive classical computer for any other purpose.
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Au contraire!
Anyone with a basic knowledge of binary maths can see that First_post & !First_post equals !First_post, so in a roundabout (and almost certainly unintended) way, he's correct to not be the first post.
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First_post & !First_post equals false, which is a boolean. If ! is the same as !First_Post , then you must be defining "First_post" as "True".
That would lead to some odd conversations.
"Honey, did you let the cat out? "
"First Post"
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Perhaps! But ! is a binary operation as well, so !First_post will evaluate as either true or false, meaning it is entirely possible for false to equal !First_post.
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This is quantum logic, so it is both the same time, until we measure it. I'm pretty sure that means that quantum mechanics figured out that we would respond and thus made !First_post == false;
Or something.
almost year old news! (Score:2)
128qubits (Score:1, Funny)
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Because at some point you have to translate the solution to a binary format in order to realize it. Also, it's still easier to lay out the circuits that way, basically all of the tools are optimized for binary layouts.
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Feel free to provide some contrary evidence.
Imagine... (Score:1)
Imagine a beowulf cluster? Anyone... ahh.. at least I'm Anonymous.
The BIOS Post should read (Score:3)
But will likely read (Score:2)
"I have a terrible pain down all the diodes in my left leg."
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did you paste an old troll article because it's the article is old?
problem remains about these apparently that it's not really answered if they're more useful than your laptop for even the only thing they do.
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Nah, it makes perfect sense:
One issue with these is that neither the random parent statement or the article in question actually answer if a so called quantum drive is actually more useful than your laptop for that thing they do.
I don't know about you, but I personally love Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Obba Babatundé, Giovanni Ribisi, and PETER FREAKING SCOLARI. Talk about an ALL STAR CAST!!!!
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Mod him down some more, he's still at zero. Troll or stupid? Who knows? But the entire post is wildly wrong in all respects.
Firstly, the machine loaded into the Microsoft boot sequence prior to loading the linux. This is the segment of the operating system which counts down the memory, and configures the A:, C: and D: drives prior to loading the Microsoft windows. Although the machine did not display the familiar windows animation, it was obvious that the linux was freeloading off the back of this prior ins
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>Your troll would work much better at the Yahoo news forums
It worked on you.
--
BMO
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Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows underneath it, at all ? As in, without a boot disk, without any drivers, and without any services ?
That sounds preposterous to me.
If it were true (and I doubt it), then companies would be selling computers without a windows. This clearly is not happening, so there must be some error in your calculations. I hope you realise that windows is more than just Office ? Its a whole system that runs the computer from start to finish, and that is a
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Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows underneath it, at all ?
Yes. It is a complete replacement for Windows; like Windows it's the operating system that runs everything else. It has its own drivers, boot sequence, and services. You can buy a blank, unformatted hard drive, install it in your computer, put a Linux CD in and format the drive and install the OS and apps (most of the apps you'll need are likewise free and are on the Linux installation CD or DVD) without Windows ever
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I think you need to read this.
The text has been rot-11'ed to protect the guilty.
dog --rot 11 reply.txt
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Espdp lcp yze xtyp. Espj lcp ly patn eczww qczx koype.
Dzxpzyp hld vtyo pyzfrs ez lcnstgp espx lww.
seea://ctidepa.nzx/1/1/20070724,00.dsexw
Jzf lcp yzh ty zy esp dpncpe.
Dxtwp rzoolxyte.
--
MXZ
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Umad
Deal with it.
--
BMO
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Coward.
This has the same central problem as before (Score:5, Informative)
I'll buy one (Score:2)
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... or a geiger counter?
I sell 1024-qubit computer for only $100$!!!!Buy! (Score:2, Funny)
Dear Sir, I am a Nigerian Professor of great fame, and I will make this one-time offer to You only ..........
for a ridiculous price of $100$ only!
My excellent quantum computer is cleverly disguised as an old Nike sneaker box,
so You can use it without fear of authorirties.
For further information, please send $10 to the following account for mail processing costs
and attach your credit card number for billing.
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how do i know your real? I've never heard of a Nigerian Professor, i though everyone over there was a Prince
ars article (Score:1)
I stopped reading the ars article after
If the phonebook has 10,000 entries, on average you'll need to look through about half of them—5,000 entries—before you get lucky. A quantum search algorithm only needs to guess 100 times. With 5,000 guesses a quantum computer could search through a phonebook with 25 million names.
Using linear search on a phonebook (which is alphabetized) is preposterous. As the first sentence of the Wikipedia article on Grover's algorithm [wikipedia.org] says,
Grover's algorithm is a quantum algorithm for searching an unsorted database with N entries in O(N^1/2) time and using O(log N) storage space
So, the example should have used an unsorted database. The article also implies the big-O constant is 1, which I find very suspicious.
I lie. I read on, but then stopped again after
During a quantum algorithm, this symphony of possibilities split and merge, eventually coalescing around a single solution.
I lie again. I continued reading on, but was forced to quit once and for all by
The crown jewel of quantum mechanics, the phenomenon of entanglement is inextricably bound to the power of quantum computers.
Can anyone suggest a math-filled crash course in quantum computi
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The Author speaks (and cringes a bit) (Score:5, Informative)
Commerically? (Score:1)
Helpful background (Score:3)
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I wish I had mod points for this, in one picture and a couple of paragraphs, the author has explained superposition, decoherence and entanglement in a manner even I can understand.
Thanks for posting this!
Useless without Entanglement (Score:2)
D-Wave has always been known to be full of $#!+ when it comes to quantum computers. They've never demonstrated entanglement in their QCs which pretty much makes this a classical computer with a different medium for pushing information around. That's not to say that their research is complete shit. They are pioneering better ways to control qubits. But actual quantum computers are a major threat to modern day cryptography,
I'll wait for the iQuantum2... (Score:2)
...I'm always sorry later when I buy the first gen...
Qubit (Score:1)
The only problem is... (Score:3)
...they're only available in alternative universes.
Proposing a standard (Score:1)
Cats (Score:3)
My quantum computer is full of cats. maybe.
'mechanical turk' quantum computer (Score:1)
*yawn* (Score:2)
Wake me up when someone has the entanglement implemented.
Until then, it's just buzzwords and useless for the vast majority of problems that could be solved by a real quantum computer.
This may prove to be a viable accelerator node for the few cases where the particular algorithm that this box computes is needed, but I really can't see that as being a widespread problem requiring a solution of this expense.
I also believe a real quantum computer will prove significantly faster at solving even that one a
This is not a quantum computer in the usual sense (Score:1)
there is a market for.. (Score:1)
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Unsorted data.
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Since when is a phone book unsorted data?
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Well some searches are O(1)
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No, this processor uses Xzibitz...