The ideas here are retold from the historical record, drawn from the sources each event cites. Rolf Landauer never posted on Veritula. To report a mistake, email veritula@dennishackethal.com.
Chronicled events
- #5902
A quantum computer could never run long enough. Its quantities vary continuously, like those of an old analog computer, so small errors pile up and can’t be corrected the way a classical computer corrects a slipped bit: you can’t even look at a quantum state to check it without disturbing it.