A public service announcement

December 14, 2016 1:04 PM

If you don't talk to your kids about quantum computing ... someone else will!
posted by AndrewStephens (14 comments total)

... someone else will!

I'll just tell them I don't quantum to.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:20 PM on December 14, 2016 [7 favorites]

Well, as soon as I enter a probability state when I did have a child, I will.
posted by Samizdata at 1:24 PM on December 14, 2016 [3 favorites]

If you don't talk to your kids about quantum computing ... someone else another you will

FTFY
posted by grumpybear69 at 1:25 PM on December 14, 2016 [9 favorites]

Yay, very impressed by the dedication in this comic. The joke is simple, but, because it's supported by things they're actually interested in, they don't have to make it once in four panels and then leave it; they can let it spread its wings all down the page!
posted by little onion at 1:37 PM on December 14, 2016 [8 favorites]

I don't really understand how a (hypothetical) quantum computer works, but I do know it's not an NTM, so I appreciate anybody who gets ahead of that one before I have to say it.
posted by atoxyl at 1:38 PM on December 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

I dunno, I thought this was a little... Bohring.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 1:41 PM on December 14, 2016 [6 favorites]

So what I'm taking away from this is that quantum computers will make magic real?!?!?!
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:41 PM on December 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'd like to buy a print of this comic, but I'm afraid that it'll be taller than my living room.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:53 PM on December 14, 2016

This is awesome.!

Does someone know of a continuation of an explanation (at or near this level) of the kinds of problems that we know how to do w/qubits (using canceling probability amplitudes in the complex plane)?
posted by lalochezia at 1:56 PM on December 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

> ...quantum computers will make magic real?!?!?!

In the sense of that Arthur C. Clarke quote, yes.
posted by ardgedee at 2:05 PM on December 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

So what I'm taking away from this is that quantum computers will make magic real?!?!?!

Mostly, it will give Futurists column inches. They are always going on about how many column inches they have....
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:30 PM on December 14, 2016

I'm just scared to see the response to the red-button challenge at the bottom.
posted by Four Ds at 2:41 PM on December 14, 2016 [4 favorites]

I hadn't really followed SMBC in years, apart from the occasional random link. He's done respectable work for quite a while, but this is a comic that's become a lot more interesting and articulate with time, I think.
posted by brennen at 3:31 PM on December 14, 2016 [2 favorites]

"a cat and a box" = "the birds and the bees" is brilliant.
posted by straight at 12:32 PM on December 15, 2016