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"In this case, the theory is way ahead of the practice, and it would seem wise to go ahead and begin offering CS courses now in quantum programming and quantum

"In this case, the theory is way ahead of the practice, and it would seem wise to go ahead and begin offering CS courses now in quantum programming and quantum algorithms so by the time these computers are built, we're all ready to hit the ground running." Aren't you a little bit too excited about quantum computing. I'm quite sure that when it becomes practical we'll be able to catch up quickly in terms of programming it. Doing a CS course in a programming model that has zero application today is not different in terms of sanity that teaching a programming model that stopped being useful years ago.

ibrahima 12y ago
Besides, quantum algorithms courses are offered, but like you said, I don't really see the point.
krastanov 12y ago
There is a big difference between courses teaching computer languages (intro CS) and courses teaching algorithms (advanced CS and mathematics). Courses dealing with quantum computation are in the second category, they teach much more than "a programming model that has zero application today", and they are already present as math, CS or physics courses.
dagw 12y ago
How are we going to get to tomorrow if everybody only learns about stuff that is applicable today? (Queue rant about how a CS degree shouldn't be a vocational training course for programmers etc.)
- arethuza 12y ago
  Exactly - when I did a CS degree in the 1980s we did a fair amount of functional programming (from Lambda Calculus and combinators up to "real" programming) which had almost no real world application at the time (I did apply to a specialized CPU manufacturer who wanted people who knew about functional programming, but they changed their mind about that approach while sitting on my application form). NB The hardware manufacturer in question was Linn Products - the high end audio/AV manufacturer who had a notion to turn their eccentric hand to CPU design in the shape of the Recursiv: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rekursiv http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rekursiv Now functional programming is pretty mainstream.
- mushishi 12y ago
  Though I don't think the point of academia vs. vocational training is to teach things that are used in future vs. things that are currently applicable. Isn't it more of learn to think analytically and to become better suited to grasp new things that might need theoretical understanding, and apply those in new contexts. But it's rational to emphasize real world solutions, or fundamental paradigms.
- im3w1l 12y ago
  By allocating people to building quantum computers, something that needs to be done today.

ibrahima 12y ago

Besides, quantum algorithms courses are offered, but like you said, I don't really see the point.

krastanov 12y ago

There is a big difference between courses teaching computer languages (intro CS) and courses teaching algorithms (advanced CS and mathematics). Courses dealing with quantum computation are in the second category, they teach much more than "a programming model that has zero application today", and they are already present as math, CS or physics courses.

dagw 12y ago

How are we going to get to tomorrow if everybody only learns about stuff that is applicable today? (Queue rant about how a CS degree shouldn't be a vocational training course for programmers etc.)

arethuza 12y ago
Exactly - when I did a CS degree in the 1980s we did a fair amount of functional programming (from Lambda Calculus and combinators up to "real" programming) which had almost no real world application at the time (I did apply to a specialized CPU manufacturer who wanted people who knew about functional programming, but they changed their mind about that approach while sitting on my application form). NB The hardware manufacturer in question was Linn Products - the high end audio/AV manufacturer who had a notion to turn their eccentric hand to CPU design in the shape of the Recursiv: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rekursiv http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rekursiv Now functional programming is pretty mainstream.
mushishi 12y ago
Though I don't think the point of academia vs. vocational training is to teach things that are used in future vs. things that are currently applicable. Isn't it more of learn to think analytically and to become better suited to grasp new things that might need theoretical understanding, and apply those in new contexts. But it's rational to emphasize real world solutions, or fundamental paradigms.
im3w1l 12y ago
By allocating people to building quantum computers, something that needs to be done today.