Canadian Company To Demo Quantum Computer

Via InformationWeek.com -

D-Wave Systems is scheduled to demonstrate next week a quantum computer designed to run commercial applications.

The Canadian company said it plans to hold the event in Mountain View, Calif., Feb. 13, and in Vancouver, Canada, two days later. Seating for both events has been filled, so registration is closed.

The company plans to run two commercial applications on a quantum computer system powered by a 16-qubit processor. A qubit is the quantum computer equivalent of a bit in a standard computer. But unlike traditional machines, quantum computers use atoms and molecules to perform memory and processing tasks. The machines have the potential to perform some calculations billions of times faster than computers run by silicon-based processors.

Experts have said that a practical quantum computer is still years away. D-Wave, however, hopes to prove them wrong. The private company's investors include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, GrowthWorks Capital, BDC Venture Capital, the Harris & Harris Group and British Columbia Investment Management Corp.