The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Categories
Hardware

Quantum Computers: How Google & NASA are pushing Artificial Intelligence to its limit

qcomp

“If you think you understand quantum physics, you don’t understand quantum physics”. Richard Feynman quoted that statment in relation to the fact that we simply do not yet fully understand the mechanics of the quantum world. NASA, Google, and DWave are trying to figure this out as well by revolutionizing our understanding of physics and computing with the first commercial quantum computer that runs 100 million times faster than traditional computers.

Quantum Computers: How they work

To understand how quantum computers work you must first recognize how traditional computers work. For several decades, a computer processor’s base component is the transistor. A transistor either allows or blocks the flow of electrons (aka electricity) with a gate. This transistor can then be one of two possible values: on or off, flowing or not flowing. The value of a transistor is binary, and is used to represent digital information by representing them in binary digits, or bits for short. Bits are very basic, but paired together can produce exponentially more and more possible values as they are added. Therefore, more transistors means faster data processing. To fit more transistors on a silicon chip we must keep shrinking the size of them. Transistors nowadays have gotten so small they are only the size of 14nm. This is 8x less than the size of an HIV virus and 500x smaller than a red blood cell.

As transistors are getting to the size of only a few atoms, electrons may just transfer through a blocked gate in a concept called quantum tunneling. This is because in the quantum realm physics works differently than what we are used to understanding, and computers start making less and less sense at this point. We are starting to see a physical barrier to the efficiency technological processes, but scientists are now using these unusual quantum properties to their advantage to develop quantum computers.

Introducing the Qubit!

With computers using bits as their smallest unit of information, quantum computers use qubits. Like bits, qubits can represent the values of 0 or 1. This 0 and 1 is determined by a photon and its spin in a magnetic field where polarization represents the value; what separates them from bits is that they can also be in any proportion of both states at once in a property called superpositioning. You can test the value of a photon by passing it through a filter, and it will collapse to be either vertically or horizontally polarized (0 or 1). Unobserved, the qubit is in superposition with probabilities for either state – but the instant you measure it it collapses to one of the definite states, being a game-changer for computing.

201011_qubit_vs_bit

When normal bits are lined up they can represent one of many possible values. For example, 4 bits can represent one of 16 (2^4) possible values depending on their orientation. 4 qubits on the other hand can represent all of these 16 combinations at once, with each added qubit growing the number of possible outcomes exponentially!

Qubits can also feel another property we can entanglement; a close connection that has qubits react to a change in the other’s state instantaneously regardless of the distance between them both. This means when you measure one value of a qubit, you can deduce the value of another without even having to look at it!

Traditional vs Quantum: Calculations Compared

When performing logic on traditional computers it is pretty simple. Computers perform logic on something we call logic gates using a simple set of inputs and producing a single output (based on AND, OR, XOR, and NAND). For example, two bits being 0 (false) and 1 (true) passed through an AND gate is 0 since both bits aren’t true. 0 and 1 being passed through an OR gate will be 1 since either of the two needs to have the value of true for the outcome to remain true. Quantum gates perform this on a much more complex level. They manipulate an input of superpositions (qubits each with probabilities of 0 or 1), rotates these probabilities and produces another superposition as an output; measuring the outcome, collapsing the superpositions into an actual sequence of 0s and 1s for one final definite answer. What this means is that you can get the entire lot of calculations possible with a setup all done at the same time!

quantum-computers-new-generation-of-computers-part1-by-prof-lili-saghafi-17-638

When measuring the result of qubit’s superpositions, they will probably give you the one you want. However you need to be sure that this outcome is correct so you may need to double check and try again. Exploiting the properties of superposition and entanglement can be exponentially more efficient than ever possible on a traditional computer.

What Quantum Computers mean for our future

Quantum computers will most likely not replace our home computers, but they are much more superior. In applications such as data searching in corporate databases, computers may need to search every entry in a table. Quantum computers can do this task in a square root of that time; and for tables with billions of entries this can save a tremendous amount of time and resources. The most famous use of quantum computers is IT security. Tasks such as online banking and browsing your email is kept secure by encryption, where a public key is made for everyone to encode messages only you can decode. Problem is public keys can be used to calculate one’s secret private key, but doing the math on a normal computer would literally take years of trial and error. Quantum computers can do this in a breeze with an exponential decrease in calculation time! Simulations in the quantum world are intense on resources, regular computers lack on resources for bigger structures such as molecules. So why not simulate quantum physics with actual quantum physics? Quantum simulations for instance could lead to insights on proteins that can revolutionize medicine as we know it.

140903112645-google-quantum-computer-1024x576

What’s going on now in Quantum Computing? How NASA & Google are using AI to reveal nature’s biggest secrets.

We’re unsure if quantum computers will only be a specialized tool, or a big revolution for humanity. We do not know the limits for technology but there is only one way to find out. One of the first commercial quantum computers developed by DWave will be stored in Google and NASA’s research center in California. They operate the chip at an incredible temperature at 200 times colder than interstellar space. They are currently focused on using it to solve optimization problems, finding the best outcome given a set of data. For example: finding the best flight path to visit a set of places you’d like to see. Google and NASA are also using artificial intelligence on this computer to further our understanding of the natural world. Since it operates on quantum level mechanics beyond our knowledge, we can ask it questions that we may never otherwise be able to figure out. Questions such as “are we alone?” and “where did we come from?” can be explored. We have evolved into creatures that are able to ask the nature of physical reality, and being able to solve the unknown is even more awesome as a species. We have the power to do it and we must do it, because that is what it means to be human.

Categories
Operating System

Bonus Bit: Surviving the Steam Summer Sale

Ahh yes, the steam summer sale, the glorious and magical two weeks of wallet crushing sales and bundles, whether you are new or a grizzled veteran, there is always something to be found at a price you thought was impossible.  But wait, it’s dangerous out there, take a read through this before you head out into the tsunami of sales tags to make sure you get the most out of your summer sale action.  

 

Quick Details on the Summer Sale

What: Large discounts on hundreds of video games from the largest PC gaming platform
Who: Anyone who owns a computer
When: June 22nd 1pm est until July 5th 1pm est
Where: store.steampowered.com

Changes and Updates to the Summer Sale Format

Veterans of Summer Sales will remember daily deals and flash sales, which are missing from this years sale, instead Steam will curate a list of games already on sale that they think you should take a look at.  This unfortunately limits what Valve can do with the sale, instead of like previous years with games for users to play, like the monster clicker game or being split into colored teams, they have decided to release limited summer sale stickers.  What are stickers you ask?  Stickers act in a similar way to Trading Cards, but instead of dropping from time spent in game, they drop based on certain activities that Valve want to encourage (check steam each day during the sale, etc) and if you fill up your sticker book, you may get a special surprise.  Trading cards are also back this year, and seem to be dropping in the same manner as previous sales, based on how much money (currently each $10 increase gets you a card) you have spent during the sale, with a special badge that can be crafted if you collect all the cards.  

 

Tips for New Commers 

Your first Summer Sales is almost always the most memorable sale, seeing hundreds of games that you want for 60%~95% off embeds a nostalgic feeling that is hard to shake.  Many veterans will complain that the sales aren’t like they used to be, but in reality it is more likely that they’ve picked up the games that they want, and as such it seems to loose a bit of luster to them.  But to the newbie it is all brand new and very easy to get lost in the fray.  To keep you from getting burnt out from the first week of sales I suggest you check out the r/steam and r/pcmasterrace (disclaimer: PCMR is a reddit group by and for pc gaming, there are no political allegiances, mac heathens and console peasants are welcomed) subreddits and the Summer Sale megathreads to keep up the special sales and answer any questions that you have.  

Even though it is a bit outdated I suggest keeping this flow chart in mind as planning your purchases can help keep you from breaking the bank.  Another tidbit is that Steam has a refund option, as long as you have owned the game for less than 14 days and have less than 2 hours of playtime you can refund it, but be careful, Steam refunds whole purchases and not single games, so if you buy 5 games on sale and want to refund 1, you will have to refund the other 4 as well.  Once you get down to playing with your new games, don’t forget to include other people, discord/teamspeak/mumble are great ways of voice chatting with your friends if the steam VOIP service doesn’t interest you and can provide structure if you are playing squad MMO’s.

Remember to stay safe out there, it’s a big sale but with a bit of planning and some self control you and your wallet should stay intact.

 

Categories
Operating System

Content Providers and Net Neutrality: A Double-Edged Sword

Source: http://www.thetelecomblog.com/2016/06/15/fccs-net-neutrality-upheld-in-appeals-court-decision/
Source: http://www.thetelecomblog.com/2016/06/15/fccs-net-neutrality-upheld-in-appeals-court-decision/

Net neutrality is the principle that data should be treated equally by internet service providers (ISPs) and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. Those in favor of net neutrality argue that ISPs should not be able to block access to a website run by their competitor or offer “fast lanes” to deliver data more efficiently for a hefty fee. Imagine if Verizon could stop customers from researching about switching to Comcast, or block access to negative press about their business practices. For ISPs, network inequality is a pretty sweet deal. Broadband providers can charge premiums for customers to access existing network-structures, and control the content viewed by subscribers.

Essentially, a lack of network neutrality actively promotes discrimination against competitors and encourages ISPs to deliberately limit high-speed data access. This form of throttling speeds when there are negligible costs of production after initial development is known as “artificial scarcity.” Supply is intentionally restricted which makes the item, internet access, more valuable.

Without net neutrality, internet providers have free-reign over deciding which content reaches their subscribers. In 2014, this issue came to a head when Comcast and other broadband suppliers intentionally restricted the data transmission for Netflix services. To appease customers with a paid subscription who could no longer watch the streaming service, Netflix agreed to pay the broadband companies tens of millions of dollars a year. Evidently, a lack of net neutrality creates a conflict of interest between wireless service providers and content firms like Google, Facebook, and Netflix. These content providers want consumers to have unfettered access to their services. Tolls for network access create barriers for internet-based services which rely on  ad-revenue and network traffic.

Despite the threat network neutrality poses to content-centric services many tech companies have been hesitant to vehemently oppose restricting data access. Facebook is investing in creating their own ecosystem. With Facebook as a central hub where you can connect with friends, view businesses, listen to music and play games, the company has little incentive to petition for the free and universal flow of information and Web traffic. From a corporate perspective, every web-interaction would ideally be done through Facebook. In a similar vein, Google has been moving closer and closer to becoming an internet provider themselves. Company initiatives like Google Fiber, Project Fi and Project Loon are the stepping-stone to Google dominating both the web-traffic and web-access businesses. This creates a double-edged sword where unrestricted internet access both helps and harms content-providers. While tech companies do not want restricted access to their sites, they would love to restrict consumer-access to that of their rivals. The burden of protecting a free internet and the unrestricted flow of information therefore lies on consumers.

Categories
Operating System

Password Managers and You

Today we’re going to deal with an issue that I’m sure many of us run into on a daily basis: managing passwords. Given that you probably use a bajillion different services, each of which has its own password requirement, and given that UMass makes you change your password once a year, you probably have trouble keeping them all straight. Luckily for you, there is a tool you can use to keep your passwords tracked!

 

For these tools, you can use one super strong password to keep all your other passwords safe, easily searchable, and all in one place. They can often be used to automatically fill in login info on the web.

 

There are many password managers out there. You can find reviews of them simply by googling “password manager.” The ones I am going to mention here are the default chrome password manager, and Lastpass.

 

The first and easiest one, Google Smart Lock is so ubiquitous that you’ve probably been using it all along! Any time your google chrome asks you to “save” a password, it gets stored in Google Smart Lock. If you want to see your passwords, or manually add new ones, simply go to “passwords.google.com” and log in with your (non UMass) Google account. Voila! You can see all of the passwords that you have saved while using Chrome.

Image result for google smart lock

What about if you aren’t a Chrome user? Or maybe you don’t like the idea of Google storing your data… What can you do?

You can use a manager like LastPass. This browser extension/mobile app can also keep your passwords safe and encrypted. You can even set up 2 factor authentication (so that you would have to have 2 devices on you to be able to see your saved passwords). You can find more information here: https://www.lastpass.com/how-it-works but it works in essentially the same way as Google Last Pass. You can save passwords, add new passwords, automatically fill out forms, etc.

img-vault-tour-1-jpg

So get one of these managers, and never worry about forgetting your many many passwords again!

Categories
Operating System

The New Face of the FCC

With any incoming president interest swirls around cabinet nominees and appointees, many set precedent for the departments, perhaps none more so than Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.  An advocate for deregulation of the FCC and free market ideals, Pai has an unique opportunity to shape our world into something vastly new and different.

Born in 1973, Pai graduated from Havard with a BA in Social Studies in 1994 and a J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1997.  After which he clerked for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and then working for the Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions.  After which he served as an associate general counsel for Verizon where he dealt with competition matters, regulatory issues, and counseling of business units on broadband initiatives.  From there he served on several subcommittees, until 2007 when he was appointed to work for the general counsel ultimately serving as Deputy General Counsel.  In 2011 he was nominated and unanimously confirmed for the republican party position on the FCC and served until 2016.  

Pai’s controversial stances on net neutrality stem from his view that they are an overly conservative reading of the laws of the responsibilities held by the FCC, claiming that regulations may lead the FCC to regulating political speech.  He advocates for the marketplace of ideas, stating to the Washington Examiner  “I think it’s dangerous, frankly, that we don’t see more often people espousing the First Amendment view that we should have a robust marketplace of ideas where everybody should be willing and able to participate.“  While it will take time for his tenure to have an effect on regulations, he will definitely speed up the pace of work, from a 2012 speech at Carnegie Mellon “we need to start taking our other statutory and internal deadlines more seriously” and “The FCC should be as nimble as the industry we oversee”.  From corporate mergers to changing how radio spectrum is portioned out, changes will be coming.  In the speech Pai shared his view of a different FCC, where the free market is utilized to bring about change and regulations are used to increase competition.  The next 4 years will be written by free market ideals and a furious pace of work, leading to an impact that will hopefully provide better choice and coverage for consumers. 

Pai’s presence as FCC Chairman will leave a lasting change on the history of the committee, some changes will be a step in the right directions, others maybe missteps, but all of them will have the possibility of changing how you interact with the rest of the world.