What this book does
The purpose of this book is to explore the overlaps between quantum computing and Blockchain. The two technologies are fundamentally based on cryptography. As a result, there is a possibility that they are on a collision course. However, when we look at the real-world applications of these technologies, they are quite complimentary to one another.
In this chapter, we will discuss technical concepts that are fundamental to quantum computing and Blockchain. We will delve into quantum computing and its history, and then touch upon some of the key concepts of Blockchain that are relevant to the thesis of the book.
One of the key themes that I would like to establish in this book is that Technology is just a means to an end. While it is important to understand it, and feel excited about the possibilities, a technology can only be special if it can make a difference to people's lives.
There is a lot of hype on social media that quantum computing would kill Blockchain. In a data age, both these technologies have a place. Quantum computing can vastly improve our problem-solving abilities. In a social media age, we will need our technologies to cope with big data volumes and understand the interdependencies between variables that we analyze. Quantum computing, when it goes mainstream, should address those areas.
On the other hand, a simple way to describe Blockchain's application is Decentralized Data Integrity. An immutable record of every transaction gets maintained and managed by the network. That is the fundamental advantage of Blockchain over data storage mechanisms we have used in the past.
Through industry-specific chapters and interviews with thought leaders in quantum computing, AI and machine learning, I will try to establish the business relevance of these two technologies. In doing so, I will establish that these two technologies have vertical synergies in a data centric world we live in.
In the next section, I will go through the history of quantum computing. In the process of doing that, I will also touch upon several key concepts of the technology.