Thursday, April 18, 2013

How To Be... Q

So you want to be Q?
Well, unfortunately, you need to be born in the Q Continuum. Sorry. It's just not gonna work out for you.

Oh, wait!
You meant this Q
Well, that requires that you join the British Secret Service. Maybe. And being able to make nifty spy gadgets.

Oh, no, wait! That's not right, either...

How To Be... a Quantum Mechanic

Okay, so there's really no such thing as a "quantum mechanic." Yet.
However, with quantum communication on the horizon (possibly closer than you think), and quantum computers in development (the first one has already been built), and the possibility of all of this leading to artificial intelligence and robots and warp drive (also in development and has been done on a small scale), I can't think of a better name for the guy that has to come around and fix your tech when it breaks down. I imagine, at first, at least, that this will take a lot more schooling than a trade school.

My advice? Take as much quantum physics as you can. The next generation of technology is coming. It can't hurt to be prepared.

24 comments:

  1. At night, I used to sometimes dream I was a 'Q' on the Enterprise (yes, I was always a bit strange). And as for Quantum, that reminds me of one of my favorite shows as a kid 'Quantum Leap'.

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  2. Ah Q, how I loved your arrogant, self involved shenanigans.

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  3. You're second guy to chat about Q from Star Trek. Quantum Physics huh?

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  4. It would be tough to be in a profession you can barely pronounce.

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  5. There really is only one Q though. And he was a popular choice today.

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  6. I read the other day that computers now are so complicated that humans don't understand them, and engineers only each understand a bit of them. Processors are designed by computers rather than humans because they're too complex for us.

    Of course, I read that in "Dinosaur Comics," so it may not be the most accurate of sources.

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  7. Does this mean I have to back to school? How about I just carry a big book under my arm and pretend it's about quantum stuff?

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  8. I always loved Q. All the gadgets and occasional snarkiness.

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  9. Oh my, Yours is the third post featuring Q I've seen today!

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  10. My blog today is on Q. hahaa I stink with any kind of math, so quantum physics is out...

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  11. Really, all I hear about regarding quantum computing is how it's got to make codebreaking so much easier... which is why quantum cryptography is a thing too... apparently that's where it ends. It can't get harder than that. So, yea!

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  12. I guess today I'll just have to be Quiet.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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  13. For some reason this makes me think of Quantum Leap.

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  14. T.: Oh, I loved Quantum Leap. I used to tape it to watch later since I was never at home to actually watch TV.

    Kellie: John de Lancie was so good.

    Sheena: Yeah, quantum physics. All the new gadgets are going to be quantum.

    JKIR,F!: Well, I guess. Only if you needed to tell people what you do, though.

    Alex: Well, he's not really what my post is about, but, yeah, I've seen a few "Q"s. No "P"s, though.

    Briane: It's like that with a lot of things. Like with quantum communication. We know that affecting one of the particles also affects its pair, but we don't know why it does or, even, how it does, since distance doesn't seem to be an issue, and the change is instantaneous.

    C. Lee: Well, I'm not going back to school. I already can't figure out my computer, so I don't think going back to school is going to make it more likely that I'll be able to tinker with a quantum computer.

    S.L.: Yeah, he was great. I was sad when he died.

    Michael: Well, mine's not really a feature. More like a cameo.

    Cathrina: I'm good with math and quantum physics is still out.

    Rusty: Oh, yeah, I forgot about quantum cryptography. I was reading something about that recently and the next generation of pass codes and why we'll have to go to a biological identification system.

    Lee: heh

    Matt: It probably should.

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  15. What a great post! Q (from Star Trek) was a brilliant character, I wish I could have been from the Q continuum.

    I don't know if my brain could handle quantum mechanics, but that's where the technology is going. Maybe I'll start with quantum mechanics for dummies.

    I love your theme for A to Z!

    Lyre @ Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge

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  16. It is because of things like this that I wish I were younger, these things will be invented and I may not be here to see them, unless I live a very long time.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

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  17. Amy: I'm sure that book will be out soon if it's not already available (which wouldn't surprise me).

    Jo: I wouldn't be surprised if you do see them. The first quantum computer has already been built. Experiments are happening with quantum communication. The first warp field has already been generated. These things aren't the future; they're now.

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  18. Looks like we're overlapping for "Q" as well!

    I love Q the character. He's so much fun to watch.

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  19. Oh my God! I forgot about the Q! I loved that character. The one with the cigars and the maharachi(sp?) band was the best.

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  20. TGE: Yea! for quantum mechanics!
    And, yeah, he is. Or was.

    Zoe: I am drawing a complete blank on that one.

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  21. You know, Q was one of my favorite characters on Star Trek.

    Dark Thoughts Blog

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  22. Mary: Mine, too. And I didn't have many.

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  23. Q was one of my favorites. And I did actually take quantum physics, and I think quantum computers are one of the most interesting things to be invented. I'd love to do some quantum computer research in my spare time.

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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  24. Kristen: The whole thing is incredibly fascinating. Sometimes (only sometimes), I wish I'd stayed with science.

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