B12
6268
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper
is based on publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used
for any purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering
students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
CREATING NEW LIFE THROUGH QUANTUM COMPUTING
Sean O'Brien smo41@pitt.edu Vidic 2:00, Ryan Kuhn rlk53@pitt.edu Bursic 2:00
Revised Proposal — In an age where new information is
being created every second of every day, the human brain has
pushed the limits of its capabilities. Computers have
revolutionized the world but in such a short time, they are
approaching the boundaries of their own capabilities. They
can no longer calculate and process the gratuitous amounts of
information we need and cannot process at the speed we need
them to. Quantum computers hold the key to the future of the
human race. With an unparalleled processing power, quantum
computers promise to handle information like no other
computer before it. Quantum computers work by utilizing
aspects of quantum physics that actually hinder the abilities of
normal computers. Phenomena such as superposition and
entanglement allow quantum computers to carry more
information per bit than any normal computer ever could.
These quantum bits (qubits) allow for information in a
database to be processed at a speed akin to the human brain.
Besides the obvious applications of merely speeding the
computational world, quantum computing in the hands of
those daring to push science, endeavor to use it to create
artificial intelligence. Quantum computing, though in its
infancy, is the groundwork required to create a new form of
intelligence like nothing humans have ever encountered.
Quantum computing promises to open the world to a new idea:
humans creating something that we will eventually fail to
understand, something that, in itself, evolves. Quantum
computing promises to elevate humanity from mere children
playing in the dirt to something akin to gods reshaping the
universe through the applications that this tech will provide us.
[5]
It is the next step towards other superior and advance
technologies such as Machine Learning and even advanced
Artificial Intelligence systems. These new applications would
enable us to better predict major storm systems and allow us
to take precautionary steps to prepare for such a potential
catastrophe. It could also lead to a less volatile stock market
making the chances of a crash or recession very slim. Finally
the last major advancement that this tech could potentially
bring us is the concept of Machine Learning which allows
computers to detect a sign based off of past experiences and
calculations instead of running through the process itself
again [1][2].
We are quickly approaching this form of computing there
are very few steps that stand in our path, these being major
ethical issues that must be handled. They involve the legality
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
January 29, 2016
of some of the applications of this advancement like Artificial
Intelligence if it gets to a point where the computer may even
be able to think and choose for itself. But these challenges are
not impossible to overcome. [1]
TOPIC AREA
Computer Engineering is the integration of Electrical
Engineering and computer science to develop computer
hardware and software. Quantum computing requires a
hardware system that can funnel and direct qubits through
integrated circuits. Transistors and logic gates have to be
capable of interpreting the information encoded by photons
which requires significantly reducing their current size.
Quantum computers also require a new type of operating
system to translate the new types of information being received
from the qubits. Quantum computers are where Computer
Engineers of the future will be allocated as our old system for
computers will very quickly become outdated.
REFERENCES
[1] D-Wave Systems. (2014) “Applications of Quantum
Computing”
(Web
article)
http://www.dwavesys.com/quantum-computing/applications
[2] (2014, October 8) "KurzweilAI | Accelerating
Intelligence."
(Web.
Article)
http://www.kurzweilai.net/quantum-robots-will-be-morecreative-faster-smarter-say-researchers
[3] Lazaridis, Mike. (2013, May 17) "Quantum Computing
101." Institute for Quantum Computing. (Web. Article)
https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantumcomputing/quantum-computing-101
[4]Nguyen, Alexander. (2012, October 10) "Quantum
Computing."
(Web.
Article)
http://qcquantumcomputing.blogspot.com/2012/10/forassignment-i-have-posted-my.html
[5]Rieffel, Eleanor. (2000, September) "An Introduction to
Quantum Computing for Non-Physicists." FX Palo Alto
Laboratory
(Web
Article)
http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/370000/367709/p300rieffel.pdf?ip=130.49.93.16&id=367709&acc=ACTIVE%20
SERVICE&key=AA86BE8B6928DDC7%2E3F18A282B75
Sean O'Brien
Ryan Kuhn
quantum systems to code quantum “bits.” It describes quantum
computing, its uses, potential concerns, and the progression of
the technology. This allows us to get into the ethics of the topic
and really discuss its potential dangers and uses in society.
518AA%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35
&CFID=748860432&CFTOKEN=24549983&__acm__=145
4110518_020ad45be0e595caa523b6b57d822cf1
[6] “Choosing a Topic” University of Pittsburgh: Swanson
School
of
Engineering
(2015)
(video)
http://www.library.pitt.edu/other/files/il/fresheng/index.html
[7] "How Quantum Computers Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p.,
08
Dec.
2000.
Web.
29
Jan.
2016.
<http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantumcomputer.htm>.
[8] "How Quantum Computers Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p.,
08
Dec.
2000.
Web.
29
Jan.
2016.
<http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantumcomputer.htm>.
[9]Kozloski, James; Wagner, John. (2011, September 19) “
An Ultrascalable Solution to Largescale Neural Tissue Simulation.” (Web article)
[4] A. Nguyen, (2012, October 10) "Quantum Computing."
(Web.
Article)
http://qcquantumcomputing.blogspot.com/2012/10/forassignment-i-have-posted-my.html
This source provides information regarding the social
and ethical qualms among the subject. The social and ethical
questions that come up in science so often, provide an insight
into the true capabilities of the subject. This source breaches
the subject of security which has become a concern in light of
quantum computers’ outrageous ability to crack passcodes.
And it will continue and further our discussion on ethics.
[5] E. Rieffel (2000, September) "An Introduction to Quantum
Computing for Non-Physicists." FX Palo Alto Laboratory
(Web
Article)
http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/370000/367709/p300rieffel.pdf?ip=130.49.93.16&id=367709&acc=ACTIVE%20
SERVICE&key=AA86BE8B6928DDC7%2E3F18A282B75
518AA%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35
&CFID=748860432&CFTOKEN=24549983&__acm__=145
4110518_020ad45be0e595caa523b6b57d822cf1
Breaks down the concept of quantum computing to
make the concept short and succinct. Using this source provi
des a basis for our paper that ensures, among the audience, at
least a basic level of understanding of the core subject. Havin
g less time spent on the foundation, we will be able to move
more in depth and esoteric, to provide something for the audi
ence. This source explains the basic principles of superpositi
on, entanglement and “qubits”: the tenets of quantum comput
ing. It also allows us to break down the topic and explain it to
those who may have trouble with some of the more complex
theories.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1]D-Wave Systems. (2014) “Applications of Quantum
Computing”
(Web
article)
http://www.dwavesys.com/quantum-computing/applications
D-Wave is the world’s first quantum computing
company, paving the way for quantum computing. This
company provides computing systems used by Google,
NASA, and other world class organizations. They publish
many peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals for their
groundbreaking research. This article discusses optimization
and its application to quantum computing. It provides us with
multiple speaking points on the various applications of the tech
and allow us to further delve into deeper research.
[2](2014, October 8) "KurzweilAI | Accelerating Intelligence."
(Web. Article) http://www.kurzweilai.net/quantum-robotswill-be-more-creative-faster-smarter-say-researchers
This article was published on the Kurzweil
Accelerating Intelligence site, a database for technological
advancements. The researchers of the Complutense University
of Madrid and the University of Innsbruck in Austria provided
input on the advancements of robotics. This article addresses
the applications of quantum physics in robots to improve the
adaptability of tasks that can be completed and the systems that
it requires. It allows for the discussion of A.I and its varied
applications.
[7] C. BENNETT, E. BERNSTEIN, G. BRASSARD, U.
VAZIRANI (2006, July 28) "SIAM Journal on Computing 26(5):1510 - PDF (Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics)." Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics).
(Web.
Article)
<http://epubs.siam.org/doi/pdf/10.1137/S0097539796300933
>.
This article discusses the entirety of quantum
computing and its various moving parts and theories. It in itself
is a Conference Paper that had discussed the early applications
and development of quantum computing and how it will
become necessary to uncover in the coming years if we wish
to advance at all in other computing based sciences. This paper
is crucial to our discussion because it informs us of the various
details of quantum computing and also provides us with other
sources if needed for further researching and studying of our
topic.
[3]M. Lazaridis (2013, May 17) "Quantum Computing 101."
Institute for Quantum Computing. (Web. Article)
https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantumcomputing/quantum-computing-101
This article comes from the Institute for Quantum
Computing at the University of Waterloo. This article
discusses the progression of computers out of the traditional
age of coding strings of “bits” of information, to the use of
2
Sean O'Brien
Ryan Kuhn
[8] "How Quantum Computers Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p.,
08
Dec.
2000.
Web.
29
Jan.
2016.
<http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantumcomputer.htm>.
How Stuff Works is a website that has specialists
analyze certain fields of interest and publish articles about
them to inform the public via the internet. This article discuss
the basics behind quantum computers and provides a brief
history of the advancements of the computer. The technology
used for the quantum computers is described and analyzed
throughout the article. We will use this to gain insight on the
way that quantum computers are constructed.
[9]Kozloski, James; Wagner, John. (2011, September 19) “
An Ultrascalable Solution to Largescale Neural Tissue Simulation.” (Web article)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3175572
This source goes deep into the issue of simulating a
brain in large scale operations. This is an obstacle that must
be overcome, and this article seeks to propose a solution. Uti
lizing this source will really ground our material into what m
ust be done, and provides an outlet for us to research further t
o provide something.
3