BULE HORA UNIVERSITY

FRESHMAN (WEEKEND)

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO EMERGING

TECHNOLOGIES

COURSE CODE: EMTE1011/1012

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: CLOUD AND QUANTUM COMPUTING

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

NAME OF STUDENTS-----------------------------------------ID/NO

1. DESTA SIBAR…………………………WU2993/14

2. GIZACHEW WAKO………....………..WU4298/14

3. BADHANE ROBA……………………..WU4276/14

4. FIKADU HAYILE.…………………….WU2961/14

5. BORI DUBE……………………………WU3920/14

SUBMISSION DATE: _/_/2016 E.C

BULE HORA, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

0|Page
Contents
1. Cloud and quantum computing................................................................................................3

1.1 Cloud computing..................................................................................................................3

1.2 Advantages of cloud computing..........................................................................................4

2. Quantum computing..................................................................................................................4

2.1 Advantages of quantum computing....................................................................................5

1|Page
#) Cloud and quantum computing

1. Cloud and quantum computing

1.1 Cloud computing
Cloud computing is a means of networking remote servers that are hosted on the Internet. Rather
than storing and processing data on a local server, or a PC's hard drive, one of the following
three types of cloud infrastructure is used.

The first type is a public cloud. Here a third-party provider manages the servers, applications,
and storage much like a public utility. Anyone can subscribe to the provider’s cloud service,
which is usually operated through their own data center.

A business or organization would typically use a private cloud. This might be hosted on their site
data center, although some companies host through a third-party provider instead. Either way,
the computing infrastructure exists as a private network accessible over the Internet.

The third option is a hybrid cloud. Here private clouds are connected to public clouds, allowing
data and applications to be shared between them. Private clouds existing alone can be very
limiting, and a hybrid offers a business more flexibility. Often a hybrid cloud includes multiple
service providers. Hybrids can offer more computing capacity for a business application when
the need for its spikes. This sudden expansion into the public cloud is known as cloud bursting.
Hybrids also enable applications to keep sensitive client data in a private cloud but connect to
end-user software in a public cloud.

Cloud computing services can focus on infrastructure, web development or a cloud-based app.
These are often regarded as a stack; all are on-demand, pay-as-you-go. Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS) gives you management of the whole deal: servers, web development tools, applications.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers a complete web development environment, without the worry
of the hardware that runs it. Finally, Software as a Service (SaaS) allows access to cloud-based
apps, usually through a web browser interface. SaaS is the top of the stack. Cloud computing has
been around since 2000. Yet it’s only in the last 10 years that major players like IBM, Amazon,
and Google have offered commercially viable, high-capacity networks.

2|Page
1.2 Advantages of cloud computing
Well, much like with any utility -a business benefits from economy of scale, which means cheap
computing power. Because a cloud provider’s hardware and software are shared, there’s no need
for the initial costly capital investment. And it goes much further than that. Businesses save on
the electricity required 24/7 to power and cool that computing infrastructure. In effect, energy
costs are shared. It gets better. Cloud providers have vast resources of computing power at their
fingertips. They can allocate these whenever required with just a few mouse clicks. Cloud
providers source on a global scale, so they can deliver the precise bandwidth, storage and power
business needs when it needs it. The cloud allows you and multiple users to access your data
from any location. Smartphone, laptop, desktop, wherever you are, you can access the data you
need at any time. With cloud computing a business processes its data more efficiently, increasing
productivity. Maintenance is much cheaper, often free, so reliability is rarely a worry. Cloud
computing allows CEOs to focus on running their business.

2. Quantum computing
Quantum computers truly do represent the next generation of computing. Unlike classic
computers, they derive their computing power by harnessing the power of quantum physics.
Because of the rather nebulous science behind it, a practical, working quantum computer still
remains a flight of fancy. Give clients access to a quantum computer over the internet, and you
have quantum cloud computing. Currently, the only organization which provides a quantum
computer in the cloud is IBM. They allow free access to anyone who wishes to use their 5-qubit
machine. Earlier this year they installed a 17-qubit machine. So far over 40,000 users have taken
advantage of their online service to run experiments.

Not to be outdone, Google provided the fastest quantum computer with 53qubits and speed of
200 seconds computation while the supercomputer took 10000 years. So, what is qubit and how
many do you need? Qubit is short for a sequence of quantum bits. With a classic computer, data
is stored in tiny transistors that hold a single bit of information, either the binary value of 1 or 0.
With a quantum computer, the data is stored in qubits. Thanks to the mechanics of quantum
physics, where subatomic particles obey their own laws, a qubit can exist in two states at the
same time. This phenomenon is called superposition. So, a qubit can have a value of 1, 0, or
some value between. Two qubits can hold even more values. Before long, you are building

3|Page
yourself an exponentially more powerful computer the more qubits you add. Quantum computer
theory was first rooted in the 1980s and only now are the first rudimentary machines being
constructed. Quantum computers are big machines, reminiscent of the old mainframe computers
of the 1960s. One serious logistical problem is the need for deep-freezing of the superconducting
circuits. Only at sub-zero temperatures can the qubits maintain a constant, predictable
superposition. Heating up qubits can result in calculation errors.

2.1 Advantages of quantum computing

Getting a quantum computer to function usefully is an exciting prospect for scientists. Their
gargantuan computing power would allow them to crunch very long numbers. They would be
able to make complex calculations that would only overwhelm classic computers. Accessing a
cloud-based quantum computer combines the benefits of both technologies exponentially.
Quantum computing could help in the discovery of new drugs, by unlocking the complex
structure of chemical molecules. Other uses include financial trading, risk management, and
supply chain optimization. With its ability to handle more complex numbers, data could be
transferred over the internet with much safer encryption.

4|Page