Quantum leaps

Systems based on quantum processing techniques could represent a new era in high-performance computing - but they will not necessarily be suitable for every application. Quantum computing has been likened to a disruptive technology that works theoretically, but faces huge engineering challenges to apply in practice on a large scale. In the event quantum computing is getting there first, particularly in the case of one of the most promising applications, cryptography. Indeed, 2008 could go down in history as the year when quantum computing finally proved that it will deliver on its early promise - even if it will remain at a pre-competitive stage for several years yet as far as the main players such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba are concerned.