Many would say that a computational "bit" is a single unit of information. It might, however, be more correct to say that a contemporary computational "bit" can represent a single datum, while a combination of bits can represent a single unit of information. For example, consider the number "1" (as opposed to the number "0"). In essence, it represents a numerical datum that can be mathematically manipulated, but doesn't, as such, represent anything beyond that. However, by adding "car," it becomes a meaningful piece of information also amenable to mathematical manipulation. It might be helpful, then, to call this extended bit, a "byte" (of information) not dissimilar to a "sound bite" or "news bite." In essence, a single item of information can be called a byte. This allows the creation of a hierarchy of meaning, namely, data, information, knowledge and wisdom, where knowledge is the ability to apply a byte of information to a different situation, and knowledge is knowing when to correctly do so. Todays computers can represent, manipulate and store data, information in the form of a state of a transistor in a processor chip, the magnetization of a surface in a hard disk and/or the presence or absence of current in a cable. It still takes a human, however, to turn processed data or information into knowledge and wisdom. And this assumes that the processed information is "true," something contemporary humans are finding increasing challenging.
Quantum computing, while similar, has several profound differences: First, a single "qubit" can actually exist in not just one state, but multiple states. Second, these multiple states can be separate or "entangled." Third, it can exist in multiple states simultaneously; there is no "switching" time needed. That means that effectively, a qubit can truly represent a single unit of information, and such information can be processed instantaneously. Additionally, today's fledgling quantum computers can represent, manipulate and store information in the form of a state of a photon, atomic nucleus electron, optical lattices, supercomputing flux junctions, quantum dots and charged quantum dot pairs. The full extent of informational representation, manipulation and storage using qubits is as yet not well understood.
In QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016), A. G. Hayes and I created a Quantum Death Machine and paired it with cyber-warfare and bitcoin technology to imagine a future perhaps not so distant as many might think. What I think makes the book so engaging is that the solution to the tripartite pairing was exactly the opposite of what one might think: the application of human knowledge and wisdom. See what you think. #quantum #bit #qubit #computer #cyberwarfare #bitcoin #byte #information #knowledge #wisdom #Koski #Falk
