Headline May 29, 2015/ ''' INNOVATION IN - [AN ERA] - OF CYBERWAR '''

''' INNOVATION IN - [AN ERA] - OF 

CYBERWAR '''

IT IS NOT JUST governments and corporations that have to worry about quantum computers and  cyber attacks:

Individuals are just as susceptible to data and identity theft, as well as falling prey to hackers who may use hapless users IP addresses to mask their own nefarious activities.

To understand what kind of innovation challenges and cyber threats abound, in the context of the future, one great way is to take a peek at Citizen Lab at University of Toronto's Munk School of Global affairs.

The Citizen Lab  ''focuses on advanced research and development at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security.''

I hope to cover this very soon. But in the meanwhile,... 

Scientists have managed to get a few qubits to do calculations in labs, but we are far from getting a stable, programmable fully quantum machine.

On April 29, IBM announced what it says is a significant advance   -a way to detect and measure the two types of quantum of errors, called bit-flop and phase-flip, at the same time.

That sounds esoteric to most of us, but it ill help with a peculiar problem that vexes researchers. The very act of looking at a qubit to gets its answers can make the quibit change its answers.

So some mechanism needs to figure out whether we're seeing the right answer. Again  -this stuff is really weird.

The various labs often disagree on the best way to build a quantum computer, and the art of programming qubits is as big a challenge as making the machine in the first place.

Today's software is based on algorithms, which are linear, one-step-at-a-time calculations.

As large companies have cut their research budgets, small science driven businesses have stepped in to pick up the slack, spawned by the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980-

That encouraged scientists and universities to commercialize the discoveries they made on the federal time.

They have opened a path for corporate innovation.

Rather than invest in their own science, big companies may now more easily buy innovative start-ups and develop their most promising discoveries into profitable technology.

And yet this ecosystem is vulnerable, reliant on dwindling pot of public money that underwrites most university based research.

''The buy up strategy would be fine if we had confidence that the university system and start-ups were picking up the slack."

Professor Arora states, "that we still don't understand how this division of innovative labor would work."

It might work  But it looks risky to put all our trust in that approach. It's time for a different paradigm. So as the world moves closer-

We're entering an era of cyberwar, so imagine how power might shift if one country gets the ability to invade any other country's computer systems while putting up the ultimate computer defenses.

That's a major reason nations are pouring money into this research.

Top mathematicians aren't yet sure how to write algorithms that calculate everything at the same time.

It's like trying to come up with a recipe for an apple pie in which all the ingredients combine in the pan in the same split second.

As hard as this work seems, scientists have become certain that the first quantum computers are within reach. Expect quantum computing news to keep coming.

And it might not be too early to prepare for quantum era life a couple of decades from now.

If you're already worried that artificial intelligence will take your job, quantum AI will seem terrifying.

Your Google self driving car will be smarter than your whole department.

With respectful dedication to the Students, Professors and Teachers of the world. See Ya all on !WOW!   -the World Students Society Computers-Internet-Wireless:

''' The Trojan "'

'''Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless