h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why is no one talking about this entry? I knew about quantum computing since I read Michael Crichton's book, Timeline, but I forgot how it worked until I read this entry. I was wondering what the formula for regular serial computing was. if a 32 qubit computer would be 2^32 then what would the regular computer's be? I know you said 4 bits was 4 times what a normal process would be.

I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but to clarify, regular classical computers usually have 32-bit processors so they can do 32 calculations simultaneously, but because quantum computers can have 32-qubit processors, they can perform calculations with their qubits in superposition. When they do this in superposition, every possibility is enacted at the same time, totalling 4,294,967,296 most probable calculations. And the increase of simultaneous calculations in a quantum processor is exponential, which means that processors could get faster by twice as much in the same amount of time.

a bit of a tangent here but can u clarify the following?
i dont have a very scienntific brain but non the less find it all most interesting especially the article and explanation on how quantum computers may work.
as i understand it the quantum world is a world of uncertainty and specific conditions are needed to for us to use it to our advantage in particular the idea/law that quatums wont do what they should if they are observed so does this mean that if a man cut a deck of cards and he picked up 22 of them to reveal the 7 of diamonds and then he died and passed on no knowledge that 22 cards down was the 7 of diamonds, that if someone else came along and happened to cut 22 down as well would that also be the 7 of diamonds even though there was no knowledge of it being there?
if it is then does it mean that the man who died memories have had an effect on the entire universe as a fact which cannot be broken or were the cards placememnt always decided when the deck was made ?

back to the computers will thgey answer our most funtamental questions? can they cure disease like cancer ? what will they be enable us to do?