Quantum cloud computing could arrive in the next decade, says Bill Gates

Cloud-based quantum computing could be helping to solve big science problems within the next decade, according to @BillGates.

Speaking during an 'Ask me Anything' interview on #Reddit, the #Microsoft founder was optimistic about the future of the nascent technology.

"Microsoft and others are working on #quantumcomputing. It isn't clear when it will work or become mainstream. There is a chance that within 6-10 years cloud computing will offer super-computation by using quantum," he said.

Gates added: "It could help use solve some very important science problems, including materials and catalyst design."

While traditional digital computers use bits -- ones and zeros -- to perform calculations, quantum computers use subatomic quantum bits, or qubits, which can be in multiple states at once. This means they can carry out more calculations in parallel and could offer new ways of solving problems that traditional digital computers find very hard to do.

Companies like #IBM and #Google are pouring millions into quantum computing in the hope of creating the next big thing in computing.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/quantum-cloud-computing-could-arrive-in-the-next-decade-says-bill-gates/