Quantum Computing (WIRED guides): How It Works and How It Could Change the World

by Amit Katwala, Wired

Quantum computing has been hailed as a technological game-changer. But what precisely is it and what is its true potential?

In this superbly insightful, one-stop guide WIRED journalist Amit Katwala tells you everything you need to know about the next computer revolution. He explains the highly complex science that lies behind it. He describes the competing efforts of the likes of Google, Microsoft and Chinese companies Tencent and Alibaba to create a viable quantum computer, and the different routes they have taken to meet the immense technical challenges involved. He considers the technology's potential application in spheres as diverse as medicine, cyber security and clean energy. And he addresses the fundamental question: how close are we to seeing quantum computers become a widespread reality.

Genres: Science, Computer Science, Nonfiction, Computers, Technology

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2021

Reviews

[JC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quantum Computing es un libro de divulgación muy bien planteado. No pretende explicar física cuántica en detalle ni tampoco adentrarse en cuestiones técnicas demasiado ajenas al lector ocasional, sino que se centra en explicar las potenciales implicaciones de la computación cuántica y qué tan cerca (o lejos) se encuentran esos desarrollos.

Al iniciar el libro, Katwala explica muy efectivamente la diferencia entre la física ordinaria -la que todos conocemos, la de Newton y la manzana- y la física cuántica, que se registra en partículas subatómicas y se rige por leyes distintas. A partir de ello, aborda la diferencia entre cómo funciona una computadora actual -que se rige bajo los mismos principios desde la época de Turing- y una computadora cuántica.

Sentadas las bases mínimas, el autor pasa a explorar los potenciales avances que la computación cuántica podría tener en campos tales como la defensa, la criptografía, la medicina, la biología, la geolocalización y otras áreas.

Me pareció interesante la faz geopolítica del asunto que, aunque tamizada por una supuesta necesaria cooperación internacional para el verdadero éxito de este tipo de teconología (una mirada ciertamente optimista del asunto), deja en claro que estamos ante una verdadera carrera cuántica, no sólo entre países (China y EE.UU. principalmente) sino también entre compañías, como Google o Intel.

Probablemente a alguien (medianamente) avezado en el tema, el libro le parezca demasiado básico, pero como introducción me pareció un buen libro.

[Florin Pitea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting.

[Salha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smooth, comprehensible, informative, and fun to read!

To sum up the biggest realisation I had while reading this book, I’m quoting a quote from the book, that says: “… we’re leading people to believe that things may be a lot further mature than they actually are.”

This book was a first of its kind for me, so I might be biased to say that everyone interested in quantum with minimum knowledge most read this book to understand the current position in that field.

All the fuss about creating a powerful computer that could break all the current cyber security we have, is still a hypothesis, that may or may not happen in reality due to the underdeveloped hardware.

It is a very exciting field, that could be a huge change during our lifetime, and I’m all in to see its development and might as well contribute to it once I officially join the tech industry!

[Gabriela Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro é um ponto de partida para quem quer se aventurar na quase impossível missão de começar a arranhar a superfície do conhecimento em computação quântica. Ele explica o conceito inicial do que é um qubit, o que permite que a partir daí você avance para outros textos. A bibliografia do livro é ótima, então tem muitas sugestões de leituras para dar sequência nos estudos. E além disso, o livro também discute brevemente sobre as possíveis aplicações dos computadores quânticos quando - e se - alguém um dia descobrir como construir um.

Valeu muito a pena a leitura!

[Winnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Wired guides and I’ve almost always enjoyed reading them. While the author tries to pursue the almost impossible task of explaining this topic in simple terms, I found myself getting lost in the technicalities multiple times along the way. Maybe it’s not the author and just the topic itself that requires fairly advanced knowledge in Physics to understand but I found it quite hard to follow. Definitely one of the most technical Wired guides I’ve read to date.

[Elizabeth Higginbotham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quantum Computing: How it works and why it could change the world by Amit Katwala is a hard book to digest. I did not understand much of the math, but did recognize the technological changes in how we compute. Computer were once huge, not we can have these devices in our hands. I understood more as the author got into cracking codes and the uses of this new technology. It might not be in our hands, but in the cloud. My book group will discuss it and I look forward to learning from them.

[Daryl Feehely · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that frames the possibilities & opportunities that quantum computing may unleash, within the real constraints & current progress of development in the field. This book is a useful stepping stone for anyone who wants to learn more about quantum computing, past the simplification of a three state qubit, and into an introduction to implementation methods & initial applications.

[Ann Gry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief and simple read about an exciting topic everyone’s talking about without much explanation. It also overviews the scope of research being done with the leading scientists interviewed or their articles mentioned. Fun!

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and descriptive. This is a work that doesn't outstay its welcome. It gives an illuminating rundown of this new(ish) field of computing and what awaits us all. It's definitely a primer to encourage one to look further into this field.

[Waw Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where could I read this book on internet pleaaaaaase

[Ari ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guide is written so well and is really good for beginners to quantum computing.

[Subbu Ananth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute fundamentals of quantum computing explained ! Nice and short read !!