Quantum Computers Are Going To Reign The World

IBM can boast to be the forerunner in the fierce completion of the quantum computer field beating Google and Microsoft by leaps and bounds.
IBM came out with quantum computer’s five-qubit computer accessible online for free. And soon this will be followed by a 50-qubit computer for commercial applications. The cooling heat sink for this mega storage system is equally large. By no means, the new quantum computer is palm top but is a large structure that resembles the first generation computer with transistors occupying a couple of rooms.
The quantum processor is ‘a tiny, precisely engineered chip about a centimeter on each side.’ At the sub-zero temperature, 16 quantum bits or qubits are at work doing simple calculations. The upgrading of this tiny one is on to gain quantum supremacy. Soon supercomputers won’t be able to use that name at all.
The cooling is a major hurdle as no efficient heat sink is developed for this application.
The simulation of small molecules or chemical reactions will kindle the chain reaction. From this milestone, the quantum computer will start searching for new materials and process. The quantum algorithm shall assist in self-improvement and development.
The machine leering will get a boost because of quantum computers. That would analyze tons of date momentarily to come out with a solution. The self-driving cars, black hole or satellite control would be child’s play once the quantum computer becomes a reality.
Quantum computer is facing road block on cooling, material, and algorithm as of now, but they are not unsurmountable problems. The idea of a quantum computer is at least three decades old. So far, no consortium is formed between the competitors in exchanging notes. That would have helped to achieve faster results but this is not academic research, this is pure business.
Quantum computers are based on quantum mechanics that explains tiny entities such as atoms, electrons, and molecules.

Reference URL: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/quantum-computers-are-about-get-real

Electronic Cigarettes, the Latest Hacker of Your Computer Data

Be ready with bitcoins as another Wanna cry is in the making. This time the new avatar is an E-cigarette with USB charger.
The substitute for the cigarette – the cylindrical tobacco packed stick- is slowing fading away. 2.9 million British people have taken up vaping since 2015. All those scary warnings of skull and words like ‘smoking can cause cancer’ are not with electronics cigarettes creating an illusion that they are harmless. But in reality, they are not as far as healthy of people or computer alike. When introduced, the e- cigarettes had disposable batteries which slowly graduated with USB chargeable batteries.
It is possible to install the malicious software within the tiny circuit of an e- cigarette which can fetch all the data in a snap. The unlock key of the computer can be inbuilt in an e-cigarette. All to be done is to add a small chip within the e-cigarette. And anyone asking to charge their e-fag from your computer is hard to be turned away. Once plugged in, all hell break opens- the booby-trapped electronic cigarette can inject a piece of “malicious code” that could order the computer to download dodgy files -letting digital crimes steal all the private information on their victim’s system.
Your USB port is something you should be to be very careful from potential hackers. The dangerous software could even crack into computers when they are locked. The only falling grace is that the USB has comparatively low storage capacity. But the e –cigarette can be modified to accommodate more capacity. Whether it is a direct USB or with special cables, the chances of hacking are imminent.
Even more disturbing is a recent proof-of-concept attack called “BadUSB,” which involves reprogramming USB devices at the hardware level.

Reference URL: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/3831259/electronic-cigarettes-can-be-used-to-hack-your-computer-and-steal-all-your-secrets/

A Computer Update for iPad at Last

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in his keynote address at Apple’s annual worldwide developer conference the newest makeover- the iPad into a computer. This is the next big development after OS 11. With this new operating system, iPad is transforming more like a Mac.
Just by transferring and docking all the important apps to new Files app, almost all computer functions are enabled. The hardware on new iPad Pro is also optimized for this change. The new smart keyboard and Apple pencil make the integration complete.
At last, Apple is throwing its hat onto iPad -Computer arena and a tool is born. That is a bit of deviation from the computer wizard, Steve Job’s original concept of an iPad.
The pricing is not that user-friendly- new 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 256GB of storage costs $1259, keyboard ($259) and pencil ($159). The 12.9-inch iPad is charging $1459. Individually the prices are on the higher side, but the consolation is that it is cheaper than a new version of the MacBook Pro laptop by $1000 or so.
A few of pros of the iPad is the weight, which is just 470g and is compatible with iPhone apps. It has a capacity to store 4000 videos, and the charger is light too. For general duty not involving much graphics, you can still consider this and need not shift your loyalty from your Mac computer.
iPads have the inherent problem of typing on the screen keyboard. So is the case with heavy editing, graphics or informatics. The external mouse is much more comfortable at times than the inbuilt one.
The options are heavily dependent on the applications, graphics, portability, cost space, and handling. Maybe iOS 11 makes the iPad impressive all over again. Well, that’s something everyone will have their eyes on!

Reference URL: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/93413859/apple-is-finally-turning-the-ipad-into-a-computer

Are We Prisoners Of Computers?

More or less we are computer-dependent, and it is not that safe. We often say our inability to live without computers is impacting our lives. A Chinese teen Go player played against Google AI and failed but appreciated the computer as ‘perfect, flawless, without any emotions.’
When the British Airways’ IT system crashed, there was chaos all over the world as the passenger’s luggage information went missing. The passengers were grounded as well. The brain of computers is as complicated as ours.
The Google’s AI for playing smart taught the computer to learn a lot, but the BA’s computers were sluggish to learn. The crashing was a result of a power outage at the data center at Heathrow.
And Microsoft’s small failure to catch up with the operating system gave ‘Wanna cry Ransomware’ a free run affecting millions of computers. Quite likely the BA dilemma would be over in few days, but that disruption had a massive chain reaction worldwide.
That meant the loss of complex and sensitive data about passengers, baggage, and aircraft movements. Even though BA could rectify the defects in 48 hours, the cause is alleged to be the outsourcing to an Indian firm. That action is supposed to be one of the cost cutting measures BA undertook recently. Did it boomerang? The trade unions were not happy with this outsourcing to India last year.
The inevitable glitch in the IT system is being projected as minor by the authorities, but in reality, it is not so. The data centers and cloud computing by Amazon and Microsoft are prone for a break down anytime.
The data loss may also be a serious security concern. As we depend more and more on computers even for simple mathematical addition, in turn, we sacrifice our ability to tackle problems independently. Slowly and gradually, without even knowing, we are becoming prisoners of the computers.

Reference URL: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40124772

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Diamond Jump in Quantum Computers

It’s too early to have a quantum computer at home but the indications are good. Doped and latticed diamond may lead to everyday quantum computers. Not like a diamond necklace, but it can provide a better positioning and orientation of atoms at a nanometer scale. And this is what qubits are lagging so far towards reliable manufacturing of qubits. This handy technique of diamond lattice in quantum computer manufacturing can pave the way for achieving the dream of a quantum PC.
The best architecture for viable quantum computers is a diamond surface, dotted with irregularities and only a couple of atoms wide. Making the flaws or defects by drilling holes and affixing atom large foreign particles at right spots, is not that easy. But researchers could create the defects in the diamond crystal structure within 50 nanometers of their optimal locations by a process known as dopant-vacancies.
This is because the combination of a tiny hole and a couple of atoms of non-diamond matter – nitrogen, for instance – can be engineered to act as a qubit, the fundamental element of quantum computing. In a qubit, a subatomic particle that can simultaneously occupy some logical states is the crux. The configuration of the hole, foreign particle, and refracted light ultimately make the qubit perfect.
Diamond seems to be more promising than the Nitrogen technique used so far. The main drawback was the light-emitting across a broad range of frequencies making retrieval tough. On the contrary, silicon-based defects emit light in a much narrower range. However, sub-zero cooling ambiance is a problem. But with the new technique, the outcome – the irregularities – thus, were within 50 nanometers of their optimal position and shown at around 85% of optimal brightness. Cooling the silicon dopant-vacancies is tough. But at first, a diamond only 200 nanometers thick is created.

Reference URL: https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/doped-diamond-may-lead-to-everyday-quantum-computers