A Shortcut Through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer

By George Johnson

Book Overview

In this remarkably illustrative and thoroughly accessible look at one of the most intriguing frontiers in science and computers, award-winning New York Times writer George Johnson reveals the fascinating world of quantum computing--the holy grail of super computers where the computing power of single atoms is harnassed to create machines capable of almost unimaginable calculations in the blink of an eye. As computer chips continue to shrink in size, scientists anticipate the end of the road: A computer in which each switch is comprised of a single atom. Such a device would operate under a different set of physical laws: The laws of quantum mechanics. Johnson gently leads the curious outsider through the surprisingly simple ideas needed to understand this dream, discussing the current state of the revolution, and ultimately assessing the awesome power these machines could have to change our world. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375411933
• ISBN13: 9780375411939
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

-- Insert Superlative Here --

This guy not only describes quantum computing in a way that should be accessible to nearly everyone, but he does it in a highly entertaining, highly readable way. By appealing to a healthy dose of abstraction, the author is able to seamlessly touch on an amazing array of topics from computational theory to quantum mechanics to cryptography. Occasionally he sinks deeper into the quantum quagmire to examine a few quantum algorithms,...

Quick, direct introduction to quantum computing

This book was very useful in introducing me to the mechanics of quantum computing. Using simplified concepts and compartmentalized explanations, the book manages to explain the core concepts of quantum parallelized computing using tinkertoys, gears, and black-box algorithms.I've had some previous introduction to quantum theory, but the limited depth provided by this book is exactly what I needed to base further exploratory...

"He makes you smart and quantum computing real"

"Those in the know tell me the next high tech revolution is quantum computing. But concepts like qubits -- bits that are both on and off -- seem too bizarre to believe. How does this weirdness make computers faster, smarter, and better? Johnson, a New York Times science writer, holds your hand and drops step by step down the rabbit hole. Four hours later, you get it. He makes you smart and quantum computing real." Kevin Kelly,...

A Quantum Leap for Computing

Your computer will soon be out of date. You know that already, especially if you know about Moore's law, which was originated forty years ago, and says that every year and a half, the density of components on a computer chip will double. From the room-sized vacuum tube monsters down to the sprightly laptop, there has been a continued decrease in size and increase in speed. But silicon technology cannot reduce forever; it...

Highly Recommended.

Intelligence, good sense of humor, and a spacious mind makes this book fascinating and makes very difficult materiel available to non-scientist and scientist alike. George Johnson is a rare soul who understands the materiel well enough to riff on it, build and play with the science, and yet speak in metaphors that work for me, someone who lives thoroughly in my right brain. His personal history with the subject matter, from...