Rwanda opens first public coding school
2019-02-28
Rwanda opens first public coding school - CNBC AfricaHome Videos Rwanda opens first public coding schoolRecommended for youLatest PostsThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Read MoreCoding drops quantum computing error rate by order of magnitude
2019-02-28
Errors in quantum computing have limited the potential of the emerging technology. Now, however, researchers at Australia’s University of Sydney have demonstrated a new code to catch these bugs.
The promised power of quantum computing lies in the fundamental nature of quantum systems that exist as a mix, or superposition, of all possible states.
A traditional computer processes a series of "bits" that can be either 1 or 0 (or, on or off). The quantum equivalent, called a "qubit", can exist as both 1 and 0 simultaneously, and can be "solved" together.
One outcome of this is an exponential growth in computing power. A traditional computer central processing unit is built on 64-bit architecture. The equivalent-size quantum unit would be capable of representing 18 million trillion states, or calculations, all at the same time.
The challenge with realising the exponential growth in qubit-powered computing is that the quantum states are fragile and prone to collapsing or producing errors when exposed to the electrical ‘noise’ from the world around them. If these bugs could be caught by software it would make the underlying hardware much more useful for calculations.
“This is really the first time that the promised benefit for quantum logic gates from theory has been realised in an actual quantum machine,” says Robin Harper, lead author of a new paper published in the journal, Physical Review Letters.
Harper and his colleague Steven Flammia implemented their code on one of tech giant IBM’s quantum computers, made available through the corporation’s IBM Q initiative. The result was a reduction in the error rate by an order of magnitude.
The test was performed on quantum logic gates, the building blocks of any quantum computer, and the equivalent of classical logic gates.
“Current devices tend to be too small, with limited interconnectivity between qubits and are too ‘noisy’ to allow meaningful computations,” Harper says.
“However, they are sufficient to act as test beds for proof of principle concepts, such as detecting and potentially correcting errors using quantum codes.”
Everyday devices have electronics which can operate for decades without error, but a quantum system can experience an error just fractions of a second after booting up.
Improving that length of time is a critical step in the quest to scale up from simple logic gates to larger computing systems.
The team’s code was able to drop error rates on IBM’s systems from 5.8% to 0.60%.
“One way to look at this is through the concept of entropy,” explains Flammia.
“All systems tend to disorder. In conventional computers, systems are refreshed easily, effectively dumping the entropy out of the system, allowing ordered computation.
“In quantum systems, effective reset methods to combat entropy are much harder to engineer. The codes we use are one way to dump this entropy from the system.”
Read MoreCoding a Better Future
2019-02-28
Embedded EthiCS, a collaborative initiative between the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments, now offers a dozen courses, tripling its size since when it began spring 2017. The initiative, which offers interdisciplinary courses that address the ethical issues surrounding technology and computer science, also plans to expand to other disciplines.
We strongly applaud this exciting, innovative initiative from the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments. The creation of Embedded EthiCS affirms the two departments’ understanding that examining the ethics at play in a novel field like computer science is an essential part of developing the field responsibly. We are heartened by the program’s expansion, and further encourage the integration of this interdisciplinary approach in other academic departments so that ethics becomes a valued component of every discipline.
An understanding of ethical issues arising from the rapid growth of technology in our society is not only useful, but also morally vital. Issues of data collection and privacy of information — to name just a few concerns — have posed challenges in the field of computer science, and it is of the utmost importance that students concentrating in the field think seriously about them. To that end, the Embedded EthiCS program is not only creating new ethics-based courses, but also aiming at integrating ethical questions into pre-existing courses across Computer Science. By this process, rather than learning just the most efficient coding techniques, students will also have to confront the implications of the systems they create on the world around them.
At a place like Harvard, where students in all disciplines will go on to shape their fields, this type of interdisciplinary initiative should not be restricted to the Computer Science department. In light of ethical challenges emerging in other STEM fields like genetics, we feel that this initiative should expand to other schools across the University such as the School for Engineering and Applied Sciences. Encouragingly, the program already plans to expand to the Medical School. Even within the College, we hope that the program grows, so that all students, regardless of concentration, will be able to take ethical reasoning classes designed to engage directly with issues related to their concentration.
Even beyond Harvard, we encourage this type of interdisciplinary approach to learning at colleges and universities across the U.S. in all kinds of different contexts. By making the materials for Embedded EthiCS courses available online, the program has made concrete steps to work towards just such a goal. We commend this move, and hope these academic initiatives across Harvard and academia more broadly will encourage students to think more deeply about how they can use their talents not just to succeed in their industry of choice, but to build a better world.
This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.
Read MoreCoding a Better Future
2019-02-28
Embedded EthiCS, a collaborative initiative between the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments, now offers a dozen courses, tripling its size since when it began spring 2017. The initiative, which offers interdisciplinary courses that address the ethical issues surrounding technology and computer science, also plans to expand to other disciplines.
We strongly applaud this exciting, innovative initiative from the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments. The creation of Embedded EthiCS affirms the two departments’ understanding that examining the ethics at play in a novel field like computer science is an essential part of developing the field responsibly. We are heartened by the program’s expansion, and further encourage the integration of this interdisciplinary approach in other academic departments so that ethics becomes a valued component of every discipline.
An understanding of ethical issues arising from the rapid growth of technology in our society is not only useful, but also morally vital. Issues of data collection and privacy of information — to name just a few concerns — have posed challenges in the field of computer science, and it is of the utmost importance that students concentrating in the field think seriously about them. To that end, the Embedded EthiCS program is not only creating new ethics-based courses, but also aiming at integrating ethical questions into pre-existing courses across Computer Science. By this process, rather than learning just the most efficient coding techniques, students will also have to confront the implications of the systems they create on the world around them.
At a place like Harvard, where students in all disciplines will go on to shape their fields, this type of interdisciplinary initiative should not be restricted to the Computer Science department. In light of ethical challenges emerging in other STEM fields like genetics, we feel that this initiative should expand to other schools across the University such as the School for Engineering and Applied Sciences. Encouragingly, the program already plans to expand to the Medical School. Even within the College, we hope that the program grows, so that all students, regardless of concentration, will be able to take ethical reasoning classes designed to engage directly with issues related to their concentration.
Even beyond Harvard, we encourage this type of interdisciplinary approach to learning at colleges and universities across the U.S. in all kinds of different contexts. By making the materials for Embedded EthiCS courses available online, the program has made concrete steps to work towards just such a goal. We commend this move, and hope these academic initiatives across Harvard and academia more broadly will encourage students to think more deeply about how they can use their talents not just to succeed in their industry of choice, but to build a better world.
This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.
Read MoreCoding drops quantum computing error rate by order of magnitude
2019-02-28
Errors in quantum computing have limited the potential of the emerging technology. Now, however, researchers at Australia’s University of Sydney have demonstrated a new code to catch these bugs.
The promised power of quantum computing lies in the fundamental nature of quantum systems that exist as a mix, or superposition, of all possible states.
A traditional computer processes a series of "bits" that can be either 1 or 0 (or, on or off). The quantum equivalent, called a "qubit", can exist as both 1 and 0 simultaneously, and can be "solved" together.
One outcome of this is an exponential growth in computing power. A traditional computer central processing unit is built on 64-bit architecture. The equivalent-size quantum unit would be capable of representing 18 million trillion states, or calculations, all at the same time.
The challenge with realising the exponential growth in qubit-powered computing is that the quantum states are fragile and prone to collapsing or producing errors when exposed to the electrical ‘noise’ from the world around them. If these bugs could be caught by software it would make the underlying hardware much more useful for calculations.
“This is really the first time that the promised benefit for quantum logic gates from theory has been realised in an actual quantum machine,” says Robin Harper, lead author of a new paper published in the journal, Physical Review Letters.
Harper and his colleague Steven Flammia implemented their code on one of tech giant IBM’s quantum computers, made available through the corporation’s IBM Q initiative. The result was a reduction in the error rate by an order of magnitude.
The test was performed on quantum logic gates, the building blocks of any quantum computer, and the equivalent of classical logic gates.
“Current devices tend to be too small, with limited interconnectivity between qubits and are too ‘noisy’ to allow meaningful computations,” Harper says.
“However, they are sufficient to act as test beds for proof of principle concepts, such as detecting and potentially correcting errors using quantum codes.”
Everyday devices have electronics which can operate for decades without error, but a quantum system can experience an error just fractions of a second after booting up.
Improving that length of time is a critical step in the quest to scale up from simple logic gates to larger computing systems.
The team’s code was able to drop error rates on IBM’s systems from 5.8% to 0.60%.
“One way to look at this is through the concept of entropy,” explains Flammia.
“All systems tend to disorder. In conventional computers, systems are refreshed easily, effectively dumping the entropy out of the system, allowing ordered computation.
“In quantum systems, effective reset methods to combat entropy are much harder to engineer. The codes we use are one way to dump this entropy from the system.”
Read MoreRwanda opens first public coding school
2019-02-28
Rwanda opens first public coding school - CNBC AfricaHome Videos Rwanda opens first public coding schoolRecommended for youLatest PostsThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Read MoreRwanda opens first public coding school
2019-02-28
Rwanda opens first public coding school - CNBC AfricaHome Videos Rwanda opens first public coding schoolRecommended for youLatest PostsThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Read MoreCoding drops quantum computing error rate by order of magnitude
2019-02-28
Errors in quantum computing have limited the potential of the emerging technology. Now, however, researchers at Australia’s University of Sydney have demonstrated a new code to catch these bugs.
The promised power of quantum computing lies in the fundamental nature of quantum systems that exist as a mix, or superposition, of all possible states.
A traditional computer processes a series of "bits" that can be either 1 or 0 (or, on or off). The quantum equivalent, called a "qubit", can exist as both 1 and 0 simultaneously, and can be "solved" together.
One outcome of this is an exponential growth in computing power. A traditional computer central processing unit is built on 64-bit architecture. The equivalent-size quantum unit would be capable of representing 18 million trillion states, or calculations, all at the same time.
The challenge with realising the exponential growth in qubit-powered computing is that the quantum states are fragile and prone to collapsing or producing errors when exposed to the electrical ‘noise’ from the world around them. If these bugs could be caught by software it would make the underlying hardware much more useful for calculations.
“This is really the first time that the promised benefit for quantum logic gates from theory has been realised in an actual quantum machine,” says Robin Harper, lead author of a new paper published in the journal, Physical Review Letters.
Harper and his colleague Steven Flammia implemented their code on one of tech giant IBM’s quantum computers, made available through the corporation’s IBM Q initiative. The result was a reduction in the error rate by an order of magnitude.
The test was performed on quantum logic gates, the building blocks of any quantum computer, and the equivalent of classical logic gates.
“Current devices tend to be too small, with limited interconnectivity between qubits and are too ‘noisy’ to allow meaningful computations,” Harper says.
“However, they are sufficient to act as test beds for proof of principle concepts, such as detecting and potentially correcting errors using quantum codes.”
Everyday devices have electronics which can operate for decades without error, but a quantum system can experience an error just fractions of a second after booting up.
Improving that length of time is a critical step in the quest to scale up from simple logic gates to larger computing systems.
The team’s code was able to drop error rates on IBM’s systems from 5.8% to 0.60%.
“One way to look at this is through the concept of entropy,” explains Flammia.
“All systems tend to disorder. In conventional computers, systems are refreshed easily, effectively dumping the entropy out of the system, allowing ordered computation.
“In quantum systems, effective reset methods to combat entropy are much harder to engineer. The codes we use are one way to dump this entropy from the system.”
Read MoreCoding a Better Future
2019-02-28
Embedded EthiCS, a collaborative initiative between the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments, now offers a dozen courses, tripling its size since when it began spring 2017. The initiative, which offers interdisciplinary courses that address the ethical issues surrounding technology and computer science, also plans to expand to other disciplines.
We strongly applaud this exciting, innovative initiative from the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments. The creation of Embedded EthiCS affirms the two departments’ understanding that examining the ethics at play in a novel field like computer science is an essential part of developing the field responsibly. We are heartened by the program’s expansion, and further encourage the integration of this interdisciplinary approach in other academic departments so that ethics becomes a valued component of every discipline.
An understanding of ethical issues arising from the rapid growth of technology in our society is not only useful, but also morally vital. Issues of data collection and privacy of information — to name just a few concerns — have posed challenges in the field of computer science, and it is of the utmost importance that students concentrating in the field think seriously about them. To that end, the Embedded EthiCS program is not only creating new ethics-based courses, but also aiming at integrating ethical questions into pre-existing courses across Computer Science. By this process, rather than learning just the most efficient coding techniques, students will also have to confront the implications of the systems they create on the world around them.
At a place like Harvard, where students in all disciplines will go on to shape their fields, this type of interdisciplinary initiative should not be restricted to the Computer Science department. In light of ethical challenges emerging in other STEM fields like genetics, we feel that this initiative should expand to other schools across the University such as the School for Engineering and Applied Sciences. Encouragingly, the program already plans to expand to the Medical School. Even within the College, we hope that the program grows, so that all students, regardless of concentration, will be able to take ethical reasoning classes designed to engage directly with issues related to their concentration.
Even beyond Harvard, we encourage this type of interdisciplinary approach to learning at colleges and universities across the U.S. in all kinds of different contexts. By making the materials for Embedded EthiCS courses available online, the program has made concrete steps to work towards just such a goal. We commend this move, and hope these academic initiatives across Harvard and academia more broadly will encourage students to think more deeply about how they can use their talents not just to succeed in their industry of choice, but to build a better world.
This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.
Read MoreCoding a Better Future
2019-02-28
Embedded EthiCS, a collaborative initiative between the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments, now offers a dozen courses, tripling its size since when it began spring 2017. The initiative, which offers interdisciplinary courses that address the ethical issues surrounding technology and computer science, also plans to expand to other disciplines.
We strongly applaud this exciting, innovative initiative from the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments. The creation of Embedded EthiCS affirms the two departments’ understanding that examining the ethics at play in a novel field like computer science is an essential part of developing the field responsibly. We are heartened by the program’s expansion, and further encourage the integration of this interdisciplinary approach in other academic departments so that ethics becomes a valued component of every discipline.
An understanding of ethical issues arising from the rapid growth of technology in our society is not only useful, but also morally vital. Issues of data collection and privacy of information — to name just a few concerns — have posed challenges in the field of computer science, and it is of the utmost importance that students concentrating in the field think seriously about them. To that end, the Embedded EthiCS program is not only creating new ethics-based courses, but also aiming at integrating ethical questions into pre-existing courses across Computer Science. By this process, rather than learning just the most efficient coding techniques, students will also have to confront the implications of the systems they create on the world around them.
At a place like Harvard, where students in all disciplines will go on to shape their fields, this type of interdisciplinary initiative should not be restricted to the Computer Science department. In light of ethical challenges emerging in other STEM fields like genetics, we feel that this initiative should expand to other schools across the University such as the School for Engineering and Applied Sciences. Encouragingly, the program already plans to expand to the Medical School. Even within the College, we hope that the program grows, so that all students, regardless of concentration, will be able to take ethical reasoning classes designed to engage directly with issues related to their concentration.
Even beyond Harvard, we encourage this type of interdisciplinary approach to learning at colleges and universities across the U.S. in all kinds of different contexts. By making the materials for Embedded EthiCS courses available online, the program has made concrete steps to work towards just such a goal. We commend this move, and hope these academic initiatives across Harvard and academia more broadly will encourage students to think more deeply about how they can use their talents not just to succeed in their industry of choice, but to build a better world.
This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.
Read MoreRwanda opens first public coding school
2019-02-28
Rwanda opens first public coding school - CNBC AfricaHome Videos Rwanda opens first public coding schoolRecommended for youLatest PostsThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Read More