Computers Definition and 244 Threads

Everything for computers has to be numbers?? Why every data, every information has to be represented in numbers for the computers. For us humans, we can take in data in various forms(or is it?). But for computers be it anything it is represented in numbers. Isn't there any other way? Hope...

Hi all, I wondered if you would mind recommending a book or website for getting a general (think broad rather than deep) overview of computers? I'm interested in both hardware and software. My background is that I am happy to use them for the stuff I do i.e. knocking up something basic on...

Hello Forum, any number that a computer deals with is just an approximation...in what sense? Why is the number zero not possible? The number zero is often a very very very small number (10^-19) but never exactly zero. Why? thanks, fisico30

I don't know about the current situation but earlier humans were able to beat computers at chess. The first major loss was I guess Kasparov against Deep Blue. But still I think humans still beat computers today. How is this possible? Computers can think far further than we humans can. They...

I'm interested with computers, with no formal education on them outside of the basics taught at middle school. The problem is that I really enjoy learning about head amazing machines, I visit the dump and scavenge old parts from old systems, I go through phases in which I attempt to learn an...

I mean if we someday has quantum computers etc. wouldn't it be able to solve all math problems just by heave number crunching and doing so, wouldn't that meant that every mathematician would be out of job? So is math really bad career for future?

there are many prime number algorithm the simplest being dividing all the number less than the prime number. then comes division of number less than or equal half of the number to prime number with the prime number finally the division by all the smaller prime number than the given number...

Hello, I want to purchase one of these computers. I am an ocassioal gamer. 1. ASUS K55 ($720) i3 processor (2.4ghz) 6gb ddr3, 2 usb 3.0, 2gb Nvidia gforce 610m, 750gb hard drive 1. Lenovo Ideapad v570 ($760) i5 processor (2.5ghz) 4gb ddr3, 2 usb 2.0, 2gb Nvidia gforce 540m, 750gb hard...

Hello, I am an undergraduate junior majoring in ECE. Right now I am still taking my core major classes but soon I need to specialize. I am very interested in computer hardware and software and would not mind at all graduating with Computer Engineering. But in the future, maybe after grad school...

Can someone explain to me what sort of things quantum computers can/could do, based on their differences in their design, that are harder for conventional computers? So far I have a list that consists of 1) integer factorisation. I was hoping someone could extend that for me! :-) After all...

So I just got a galaxy s3 and the performance is amazing. It can browse the internet just as fast as my laptop and do other things just as well. I was wondering if laptop or desktop engineers could cram in much more hardware than they already do by using shrunken smartphone technology.

I started my days late with computer world, but lately I have enjoyed myself pretty much with DOS command line options and usage. Today people use only mouses to click, I wonder why on Earth do people still use command prompt. But I decided to learn about environment PATH SETTING, and I am stuck...

Lately I've been hearing about latest advancements in quantum computers, such as the chinese group breaks distance record for teleporting qubits (As seen on phys.org, Unfortunately i cannot post that link because i am new). I was just wondering if anybody could clear up what a quantum computer...

Any boolean formula can be represented efficiently as a reversible circuit (i.e. with at most a polynomial increase in the number of gates), with n input bits and n output bits. If it is an n-input, 1-output formula, the corresponding reversible circuit will have 1 'main' output bit and a series...

I'm working on a science fiction novel about a prosecutor in the future. He's assigned to different planets and they have an office system and he has a personal handheld device of some type. I need some help describing what this would be like in the future. I'm sure we're past...

Although I've read many times that quantum computers are reversible, I am unable to find a understandable explanation as to why (this may be because I study Computer Science). From what I've read, I assume that the answer is linked to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, but I don't know how...

Ya the title...is it mathematical physics, particle physics, statistical physics?

Hello Everyone I was hoping someone can answer how quantum computers work. I understand how digital logic works such as in AND gates and OR gates, but I am not sure how quantum physics wave functions can make this any faster. I was thinking maybe because whenever a piece of matter has the...

Here's something a Highschool student would ask: If I have something considered a disability in mathematics i.e visual thinking LoL , using a computer to visualize mathematics would be considered a useful tool. Pure mathematics is defined as generalizing abstraction , it is the how's and why's...

First of all, I haven't the slightest idea how a quantum computer actually works but I understand that it is theoretically possible to make them and they could, in theory, be used to compute things that a classical computer would take too long to compute. (i.e. large combinatorial problems like...

Hello Friends, This is my first post here :) I am writing an assignment on how Computers are used in the field of Physics. I searched the whole web but couldn't find any article about it. Can you please help me find one article? Thanks, Manoj

For years I had the ambition to get a degree in chemistry and possibly become a chemist because I like the idea of being able to manipulate chemicals but when I sit down to do some learning I find I always end up spending most of my time learning about computers and IT because I have a...

Yo all, I am going to start senior year in high school (finally... ) and you know, just thinking what I should go for. Ever since I was young, I was into computers. I love computers and would like to learn about hardware and perhaps programming. I would use the computer a lot when I was a...

Hello iam very much curious about Quantam Computers i want to know that How sholud i proceed to pursue a career in quantam computing what is the requirement and eligiblity & what role will todays Computer scientists,Engineers, & experts will play in the Quantam era. what Kind of...

When do you think Quantum Computers will be out? Most scientists think 20-30 years but we have them in the lab already, they're just 1.5mill and only about 6 qubits.

This question has been bugging me. I have a math degree, and my computer knowledge is limited to VERY BASIC programming and being able to build my own PC, so I thought this would be a good place to ask. Note: This question has no "clean cut" forum to fit into. I read ALL the forum...

Hello there forum! I would like to present a paper on quantum computers. Idk where to start from. I have high school level knowledge on quantum mechanics, semester on quantum physics and also the knowledge the feynman lecture vol 3 would give its readers.

I think this needs it's own thread. e and pi are transcendental numbers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_number The square root of 2 is n irrational number: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrational_number 1/3 is a rational number...

Hi. I am now to choose what I must study for engineering. So,I wanted some help.Everyone says "you must take what you like and what you will enjoy doing and what will make your job enjoyable". But,I don't know what I'll learn in engineering and what job I'll have to do. (I have to pick among...

Book Recommendation? -- How computers / processors work I'm familiar with basic, high-level programming (e.g. C) and the principles behind compilation, operating systems, etc. I'm also familiar with the basics simple electronics, e.g. circuits, transistors, simple logic gates, etc. The...

What will computers, especially personal computers be like in the year 2050-2100? With Moore's law quickly becoming obsolete, I wonder what will be done to dramatically increase the performance and computational power of microprocessors in the distant future. Famous physicist Michio Kaku often...

I'm not sure what cause it has for asking certain questions but I was playing around with a chat bot (actually I'm still in session) and had a few interesting questions come up: (this occurs later in the conversation, the earlier parts didn't seem to be useful for this) You: what have you...

Does your computer contain a log of literally every single keystroke that has ever been performed in the entire history of that machine's use? If you bought something off amazon.com and used your credit card three years ago, is your credit card number permanently logged somewhere on your...

Not sure where to post this. I'm trying to write my dissertation, and both the examiners and I would prefer it if I used latex for the required notation. The frustrating thing is that even though I do know how to produce latex code, I don't know how to save it into a format that the computer...

The number of sensors is unimportant. A computer can probably fly a plane more reliably than a human pilot, but it would be unthinkable to not allow the human pilot to override the responses made by the computer. I don't know the specifics of a nuclear power plant, but for something truly...

Obviously the topic isn't new...but... What do you think? In my opinion computers have the potential to be much smarter than us and that is - the reason for this not happening is not the lack of hardware...but simply: perhaps we don't know yet how to program them. To quote Bill Gates: "I've...

Homework Statement Which of the following numbers will be stored in an 8-bit computer as 11000001? This computer uses the 2's compliment convention. a)-64 b)-63 c)63 d)64 Homework Equations 1's and 2's compliment The Attempt at a Solution The answer is -63 and after trial...

Hey, I am a freshman in college and I'm trying to figure out the best course of action in terms of major to learn as much as possible about computers. I also wish to learn outside of the classroom as well, if possible. If possible, can anyone help me out? Much appreciated.

Is there some process by which a computer is able to keep track of time in a linear order? Ie, how can a computer determine when a fixed time increment of arbitrary length has passed? Please don't dismiss this until you've at least thought about it a little bit. Is there a specific fixed...

Hi All, we hear about this term quantum computers and electronics which is currently under research. Will there be any major shift in our computer industry from semiconductor to quantum in next 5 years? Is there any significant advancement in this field? Just curious to know:)

Can anyone help me...from Nielsen-Chuang "quantum computation and quantum information":how might we recognize that a process in nature computes a function not computable by a turing machine?

Suppose I have a REALLY big polynomial: a_0 + a_1 x + a_2 x^2 + a_3 x^3+a_4 x^4+ \cdots + a_n x^n I can rewrite the polynomial as a combination of multiplication and addition operators (instead of exponents) that a computer tends to like as such: a_0 + x \left( a_1 + x \left( a_2 + x \left(...

Although useful, I feel as though computers denigrate the purity of mathematics. There is something rather romantic about doing mathematics while sitting in a candlelit room with pen in hand free from the hum of a computer fan. Does anyone feel the same way?

Is it just the electronics devices like notebooks, PC's that are rendered useless or as well the actual storage mediums like flash memory & optical discs even when there stored away? Would data on usb external HDD, flash memory, & dvd optical storage be readable after the attack? What home...

How hard is it to get into the quantum computer/information theory programs at the top universities? Are they easier to get into than theoretical particle physics or pure math? I would guess it would be just as difficult, but I hardly ever meet or read about people that are interested in that field.

GOOD LORD! I swear, I think I'm spending half my waking hours (slight exaggeration) fixing my mothers computer because someone in the family uses it like a drunken moron uses a car to get home and eventually kills someone. Everytime something is screwed up with it, I go find all sorts of...

I am a consulting engineer that frequently needs to determine the saturation temperature for various steam pressures. I use a mac computer. I have found many steam table calculator applications for PCs, but have been unable to find one that will run on the mac. Can anyone point me to a...

I am a consulting engineer that frequently needs to determine the saturation temperature for various steam pressures. I use a mac computer. I have found many steam table calculator applications for PCs, but have been unable to find one that will run on the mac. Can anyone point me to a...

I only recently 'discovered' this quantum computer business and quantum information. As I see it, this seems like a drastic departure from regular 'classical' computers. So if we ever get to the point of using these computers, won´t they have to rediscover the entire field of...

Hello, if we have 2 computers connected to the same network by the internet(have the same network address), how can i share files between them?