A Shortcut Through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer
by George Johnson
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Publisher's description: The first book to prepare us for the next big--perhaps the biggest--breakthrough in the short history of the cyberworld: the development of the quantum computer. The newest Pentium chip driving personal computers packs 40 million electronic switches onto a piece of silicon the size of a thumbnail. It is dramatically smaller and more powerful than anything that has come before it. If this incredible shrinking act continues, the logical culmination is a computer in show more which each switch is composed of a single atom. And at that point the miraculous--the actualization of quantum mechanics--becomes real. If atoms can be harnessed, society will be transformed: problems that could take forever to be solved on the supercomputers available today would be dispatched with ease. Quantum computing promises nothing less astonishing than a shortcut through time. In this book, the award-winning New York Times science writer George Johnson first takes us back to the original idea of a computer--almost simple enough to be made of Tinkertoys--and then leads us through increasing levels of complexity to the soul of this remarkable new machine. He shows us how, in laboratories around the world, the revolution has already begun. Writing with a brilliant clarity, Johnson makes sophisticated material on (and even beyond) the frontiers of science both graspable and utterly fascinating, affording us a front-row seat at one of the most galvanizing scientific dramas of the new century. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Going into this book I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I didn't know much of anything about Quantum computing or quantum physics for that matter and I was concerned that such a thin book might not do the subject justice. It turns out my concerns were misplaced.
This book takes a pretty difficult subject and somehow converts into language almost anyone can understand. It was really pretty amazing. I won't claim that I could totally grasp everything it laid out. In fact I just took a leap of faith a couple of times and assumed the author wasn't pulling my leg just so I could move forward. Some of this stuff just boggles my mind.
I don't know if I'll ever see a working Quantum Computer in my life time but if they actually figure out how show more to get the technology working it will be amazing and I'll be even more glad I read this book. It is a great introduction to the topic and the author, George Johnson (the NY Times science editor) does a commendable job of making a difficult subject digestable. show less
This book takes a pretty difficult subject and somehow converts into language almost anyone can understand. It was really pretty amazing. I won't claim that I could totally grasp everything it laid out. In fact I just took a leap of faith a couple of times and assumed the author wasn't pulling my leg just so I could move forward. Some of this stuff just boggles my mind.
I don't know if I'll ever see a working Quantum Computer in my life time but if they actually figure out how show more to get the technology working it will be amazing and I'll be even more glad I read this book. It is a great introduction to the topic and the author, George Johnson (the NY Times science editor) does a commendable job of making a difficult subject digestable. show less
Oversimplified, but still useful. Didn't know about the quantum compter -> celluar automata connection. ( Also makes clear how important solving NP = P will { would } be )
Oversimplified, but still useful. Didn't know about the quantum compter -> celluar automata connection. ( Also makes clear how important solving NP = P will { would } be )
A short and very elementary intro to quantum computation, which may become a reality within a decade or two.
information technology, mathematics, physics
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Author Information
9+ Works 2,125 Members
George Johnson was born in 1952, in Fayetteville, Ark. He has worked for newspapers in Albuquerque, N.Mex. and Minneapolis, Minn., and is a science writer for the New York Times. His first book, Architects of Fear: Conspiracy Theories and Paranoia in American Politics (1984), won a special achievement award in nonfiction from the Los Angeles show more chapter of International PEN. Many of Johnson's other books evidence thoughtful, spiritual examinations of the relation between man and science. Fire in the Mind: Science, Faith and the Search for Order (1995) is about the diversity of ideas in New Mexico. Johnson draws parallels between Los Alamos and the worshipful view of scientific discovery and the high desert, a sacred place for the Tewa Indians and Hermanos Penitentes. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Classifications
- Genres
- Science & Nature, Nonfiction, Technology, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 004.1 — Computer science, information & general works Computer science, knowledge & systems Computer science General works on specific types of computers
- LCC
- QA76.889 .J647 — Science Mathematics Mathematics Instruments and machines
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 242
- Popularity
- 133,627
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.54)
- Languages
- Czech, English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 1
