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Team Synergy lands an exclusive with countryman and astronaut Mark Shuttleworth.
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South African astronaut (first African to land on the moon) and open-source pioneer, Mark Shuttleworth speaks to team Synergy about quantum computing and software. We contacted him via e-mail.
Q: Quantum Physics challenges the "Normal" physics model. How do you feel this will affect the future of space exploration?
A: I don't think quantum physics challenges the normal physics model at all! Quantum mechanics is normal. We do have unanswered questions, such as how to reconcile quantum physics and gravitational physics (relativity). When you take a computer into space, you're harnessing what we know about both quantum mechanics and relativity. Perhaps, in seeking to combine the two fields, we'll discover new forms of locomotion or energy or propulsion which change space travel, but for now that's not the case.
Q: Secondly, do you see any scope for the development of software that will manipulate the Processing power of these quantum Computers?
A: At this stage, I'm not aware of any software that's being developed for quantum computers. Rather, most of the work seems to be done on theoretical algorithms which could be implemented once we actually have quantum computing hardware.
Q: Also, D Wave Systems have developed the first Quantum Computer. How do you feel this will affect the "Microsoft/ Open Source Software Battle"?
A: At the moment, quantum computing is so theoretical that it's not a large factor one way or the other. My expectation would be that Microsoft research into quantum computing software would be done in a proprietary way, while the work done at universities and public research facilities is likely to be done in an open source fashion, on an open source platform.
Q: Do you see a future for research in the field of Quantum Computing in a South African context. And if so, what sort of tertiary direction should students pursue if they wanted to follow a career in this field.
A: I think folks should pursue whatever fascinates them most. Quantum computing would have both theoretical and practical elements, and the former is perfectly feasible to pursue from South Africa.
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