The Universal Machine

credit www.greendisk.com

That's not just an outdated computer. Its not just an archaic mesh of plastic and transistors. It is a universal machine. Transhumanists aren't promoting computer science and artificial intelligence because it's cool, we do so because computers are the most significant and astounding invention in the history of mankind, and we believe they will change the course of history.

As I said above, its a Universal Machine- which is very significant. Some theoretical difficulties aside, there is pretty much nothing you CAN'T do with a computer. The only limiting factor in computer science is our knowledge of HOW to go about doing something.

In bare essence, a computer is simply the restricted flow of electrons through microscopic wiring. That's it- nothing more or less. Yet, from this simple eb and flow of energy, something greater manifests: Computation.

Its amazing if you really think about it. What is so special about a clump of wiring and plastic such that simulations, solutions and (someday) consciousness should come forth from it? The existence of computers is, to me, just as astounding as that of life and organic consciousness.

And now, in the 21st century, we are on the cusp of yet another powerful breakthrough: Quantum Computing.

In a traditional computer, composed of "bits," each physical bit exists in one of two states: On or Off. 1 or 0.
This limits our ability to fully integrate computers into our daily lives, because, even as transistors get smaller and smaller, we still require that each computer consist of billions of individual transistors.

No matter how small a physical object is, if you multiply said object a couple billion times over you tend to end up with a significant amount of matter.

Enter the Qubit.

Qubits are single atoms(bits) suspended in a quantum state, in which they can represent a number of values simultaneously(instead of just a one or a zero), and they represent a major leap forward in our abilities to both increase computing power and integrate small computers into every aspect of our lives.

A quantum computer the size of a grain of sand could be exponentially more powerful than today's most advanced computers, and anyone with a brain BIGGER than a grain of sand should realize that there are profound implications in such a development.

Scientists are already hard at work developing the hardware(and are getting very close to sustainable success), so the problem becomes how to store and create software which operates on a system of a few qubits rather than a billion transistors.

Perhaps computer hacking skills are a little more important than bow hunting skills after all.