• Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    The ball dropping is computing x^2. You setup the ball at the height you need like setting up the voltages of a set of configured transistors. You could measure the output to get the answer like you measure the output of the transistors.

    A ball integrator is computing an integral that required so much computation that missile guidance systems used ball integrators instead of digital computers even in the early 1970’s.

    Computers aren’t magic. They are physical machines that require setup to perform a computation and measurement to get the output.

    A quantum computer can perform many operations in parallel. That is a feature of QM. Parallel worlds is one of many ideas as to why this is possible. It’s not a theory because it has made no testable predictions. It’s just as valid as claiming, “Angels did it.”

    • sabin@lemmy.world
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      17 hours ago

      A quantum computer can perform many operations in parallel. That is a feature of QM.

      You’re trivializing the capabilities. This is not something you can just simulate on classic hardware while maintaining the O(n) performance of an actual quantum computer.

      The fact that it is probably possible to do this stuff in the first place with a quantum computer is the point.

      It’s not a theory because it has made no testable predictions. It’s just as valid as claiming, “Angels did it.”

      I don’t disagree with this statement as stated but try and have some appreciation for the fact that this sort of reality-bending invention is possible.

      It’s ok to start speculating.