How Quantum Computers Can Change the World | 6 Practical Fields

Quantum Computers Are Coming and they’re going to take over the world…

Just kidding (well, kinda).

Before we go any further, let’s uncover what exactly a quantum computer is…

A quantum computer harnesses the power of the very mysterious “quantum mechanics” to outperform even the most advanced supercomputers available. The invention of these machines has allowed us to make enormous progress in increasing the processing power of computers. 

The kind of computer you and I are most familiar with – the desktop or laptop you probably have sitting at home and maybe reading this article on – uses something called ‘bits’. These are a stream of electrical or optical pulses that are represented as either 1s or 0s (hence the binary code that consists of lots of 1s and 0s). Everything from your mum’s Facebook status to your favorite music video on YouTube is formally made up of long strings of these binary digits. However, quantum computers use ‘qubits’. These are usually subatomic particles such as electrons or photons. Qubits are pretty clever. They can be connected in groups (known as ‘entanglement’) to provide tons more processing power than the same number of ‘bits’ could ever produce. An even cooler thing about ‘entanglement’ is that it can happen even if the entangled qubits are separated by long distances. Regardless of distance, quantum computers can harness the power of these entangled qubits in one long chain. 

The power of qubits lies in something called ‘superposition’. This basically means that, rather than representing a 1 or 0 like bits do, they can represent loads of possible combinations of 1 and 0 at the same time. Thanks to this incredible (if a little crazy) phenomenon, a quantum computer with several qubits in superposition (especially when entangled) can process a ton of data all at the same time, making it millions of times faster than a normal computer, which runs through data in a fairly systematic order. A quantum machines’ ability to speed up calculations like this is what has got them firmly in the limelight.

The truth is, quantum computers are going to revolutionize the way we live our lives. Before you ask, no, we won’t all have quantum computers sat on our desks at home (well, not unless you keep your home at exactly -460 degrees Fahrenheit, anyway!) BUT there will be more of them, they will be accessible to the everyday human (in fact, they already are!) and they will impact our lives in many, many ways. Here are just a few of the ways they’ll change our lives:

Transport

Electric cars are all the rage right now, but their batteries aren’t fantastic. Quantum computers could help us to create batteries that run for years and years without a single charge. They could also help us to develop the kind of artificial intelligence that could finally place self-driving cars into everyday use. They could also help us to enhance the accident detection schemes on our vehicle computers, inevitably keeping us all much safer (whether or not we’re in the driving seat). 

Home Support

The potential for quantum computers to improve artificial intelligence has many applications beyond transport, one of which would be in supporting people in the home. Have you got a smart home assistant right now? Your Alexa, Google Home, or Siri-enabled device might seem pretty smart right now, but imagine how much smarter it would be if your assistant could actually make decisions of its own? Rather than relying on rigid algorithms to provide a response, quantum computing could mean that your future assistant could have the capacity to genuinely “think” through what you have said in order to construct an appropriate response. The futuristic robot assistants we’ve seen in the movies might be closer than you think!

Weather

Ever looked at the weather app on your phone and thought “oh yay sun!” and then opened the curtains to pouring rain? Whilst the technology is definitely improving, our ability to predict the weather is still very much based on guesswork. But, with quantum computing onboard, our weather predictions could become far more accurate. Imagine being able to pinpoint the exact hour, minute, and second, it might rain, right down to the exact coordinates of the area likely to be affected. It sounds like the stuff of dreams, but it could really happen. Plus, the same technology could be used to help predict natural disasters far in advance, giving inhabitants of the areas likely to be affected enough time to evacuate and/or prepare for what’s to come! 

Finance and Investments

While we’re talking about predictions, there are plenty of applications for quantum computing in the world of finance. For starters, a quantum computer could help you put together a realistic financial plan, alongside predicting your ability to be approved for a loan, mortgage, or other financial product, in seconds. Plus, imagine what investing would be like if you could accurately predict exactly when a stock or share will peak and trough? This technology is likely to cause some problems (as the predictions could in themselves change the very results they’re predicting… inception style). Regardless, it’s still pretty exciting stuff to think about! 

Medicine

The final, and perhaps most mind-blowing, application of quantum computing is in medicine. Theorists have suggested that quantum computers could help us to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-per-unit of existing medications, which could help us to make vital medicines available to developing countries, improving life expectancies and leveling the health-related playing field across the globe. There are even those who have predicted that computers could be used to find cures for currently incurable diseases like Alzheimer’s! 

Cyber Security

The problem is, alongside all these incredibly positive applications, there is one very big problem that quantum computing will inevitably bring forth… a cybersecurity juggernaut. 

The ability for quantum computers to review such a large volume of data simultaneously has already made them capable of breaking through even the most advanced cybersecurity solutions available right now. This is because quantum computers are able to run multiple potential “keys” through an encrypted data set at the same time – speeding up the process of finding the correct “key” and helping them to crack the code much faster than an ordinary computer. They can also utilize “superposition” to find solutions that even the most sophisticated supercomputers wouldn’t be able to find.

BUT there is a solution… 

A team of cyber security experts has developed a kind of encryption technique that they claim is completely “quantum-safe”. 

The solution they have found is known as “quantum encryption”. It works by completely randomizing the data it sends out. This stumps quantum computers because there is no pattern for them to follow, rendering them unable to decrypt the data. Want to know more about it? I recommend reading their report here!

Conclusion

In conclusion, Quantum computers can make a true difference in this world. The level of intelligence needed to perform some tasks has already gotten high. And quantum computers can fulfill that demand. In fact, they have already started to revolutionize the world. The time isn’t too far when Quantum computers will be used in homes and offices.