Last revised16 March 2008 Cohærence * | Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena superconducting quantum computing, superposed quantum networks    20080316    Room temperature quantum effects in diamond crystals    20080217    DSO Workshop on Neuromorphic computing    20080118    QuanTalk ERA Pilot QIST grant    20071211    Mark Feldman, 1945-2007    20070105    Berry's phase in a solid-state qubit

The UNISCA First Committee Chair Report, Converging Technologies: The Future of the Global Information Society, has been selected to receive the 2004 RSA Information Security Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Policy. RSA Awards photos are available online via the RSA Conference website.

Our paper on adaptive quantum networks appears in International Journal of Theoretical Physics 43, No. 10 (2004). We introduce superposed networks from the perspective of quantum topology, with considerations for both molecular biophysics and quantum computation. A preprint of the article is available via the Los Alamos quant-ph ArXiv.

The ARDA Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmap charts the progress of quantum information research towards the quantum computer era – surveying potential advances in theoretical and applied physics, quantum algorithms, sensors, metrology, cryptography and communications.

Defense and Security Applications of Quantum Information Quantum systems that compute, store, and distribute information based on quantum mechanical entanglement, superposition, and interference phenomena are being developed and realized in many physical systems, with possible applications in quantum cryptography, quantum communication, and quantum computation. The SPIE Defense and Security Symposium – the largest unclassified international symposium of its kind – was held from 12-16 April 2004.

East Asia The ATIP QUIST team recently visited Korea to evaluate national research initiatives in quantum information technology. We traveled to the Quantum Information Sciences laboratory at Korea Institute for Advanced Study, led by Dr. Jaewan Kim, and to the School of Mathematical Sciences at Seoul National University, led by principal researcher Dr. Dong Pyo Chi.

NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Quantum Chaos Villa Olmo, Como, Italy I recently presented on superconducting quantum computing at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Quantum Chaos. The Workshop was organized to assess the state of the art in an authoritative and unprecedented way: to set the goals of the new frontiers of quantum chaos, the dynamics of complex systems, the feasibility of quantum computing, the development of new photonic devices, and to bring to light the seeds of new perspectives.

NSF Coding Theory and Quantum Computing Workshop Charlottesville, Virginia From 20-24 May, I attended the NSF Workshop and Conference on Coding Theory and Quantum Computing. Lectures were given by many of the field's pioneers, including Robert Calderbank, Samuel Lomonaco, Jr., David Meyer, Steven van Enk, and Casper H. van der Wal.

Amsterdam The World Information Exhibition explores new technologies, future communication environments and their implications. Issues highlighted include developments in artificial intelligence, data mining, internet and communications technologies, privacy and security. WorldInformation.org

I've recently been elected to serve as Chairman for the UNISCA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. Issues under responsibility of the First Committee include nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism and information warfare. Converging Technologies: The Future of the Global Information Society UNISCA First Committee Overview

Kaluza Klein mode emission into extra dimensions: Particle detection using virtual reality tools: Physicists at Fermilab use virtual reality as a tool in the identification of particle showers generated through high speed accelerator collisions. Animation created by Liubo Borrisov. Anatomy of a Detector – virtual reality videos of high energy collisions

Amsterdam The 31st biannual conference on high-energy physics was held from 24-31 July 2002 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This conference continues in the tradition of the Rochester conferences, a long held cornerstone of the international physics community. Highlights included a public lecture by Gerard 't Hooft, Nobel laureate in physics, 1999. Conference summary ; Quantum State Engineering with the rf SQUID

Quantum entanglement stronger than suspected: A recent New Scientist article outlines work at Leiden University showing quantum entanglement to be much more robust than traditionally expected. See link and homepage for physics research at Leiden University, The Netherlands. Plasmon assisted transmission of quantum entanglement Quantum Optics and Information Laboratory, University of Leiden

Paris French Senate Hearing: On Wednesday, June 26 I attended the French Senate Hearing in Paris concerning the potential long-term impact artificial intelligence may have on the future of society. This was the world's first Senate hearing on the issue.

London World Technology Summit: The World Technology Summit is a unique two-day gathering of over 200 of the world's key technology players - scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, industrialists, financiers, journalists, and policy makers - to explore the emerging technologies that will have the greatest impact upon industry and society in the first years of the 21st Century and to create the relationships which will help those technologies happen sooner and better than they would otherwise. The World Technology Summit is The World Technology Network in action. Hosted at one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the world - The Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine in London - the Summit brings together Network Members, Fellows and other specially invited guests to think deeply about emerging technologies - how they will likely impact tomorrow on today's industries and those industries yet to be born.

"We need to realize that, quite soon, we can make any kind of world we want. The challenge for us as humans is to seriously ask ourselves the question, 'What do we want?' " James Martin, interviewed in the new issue of Discover Online, shares his predictions for the future of computing. The accuracy of his forecasts remains to be seen, but the potential consequences of the technology show an imminent need for public awareness of the issues. Discover Online interview.

Salishan HSC conference: I was fortunate to attend the US National Labs Conference on High Speed Computing from April 23-27 at the Westin Salishan in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. "Salishan is a half-mile's walk from the beach, a picturesque, mist-covered mountain resort that has been the setting for the conference since its inception. The conference, founded in 1980, was founded as a means of getting experts in computer architecture, languages, and algorithms together to improve communications, develop collaborations, solve problems of mutual interest, and provide effective leadership in the field of high speed computing. Attendance at the conference is by invitation only, and limited to about 170 of the best and brightest in the world. The conference is sponsored by Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as being co-sponsored by a number private companies - this year volunteering sponsors included Compaq, Cray Inc., Fujitsu, IBM, Intel, SAIC, SGI, StorageTek, and Sun Microsystems. A highlight of the conference was the informal discussions held each evening in Salishan's Sunset Suite, a forum to exchange ideas, solve problems, and develop friendships." The conference profiled a number of new computing technologies: nanotechnology, supercomputing, MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems), large-scale networks, memory architectures, data management, artificial intelligence, molecular electronics, and a number of other technologies that have a significant chance of impacting the future of computing. It was a very stimulating and challenging week of close interaction with many of the top minds in the world.

As long as he can remember, Kamen, 49, has wanted to change the world. "Because that's what the definition of life is. If you're not going to change the world, you know, go to sleep, go hibernate," he says. Does anyone ever consider him crazy? "I consider it a high compliment," he says. "If most people think what you're doing is completely normal, it probably is. Why do it? Everybody else is doing that. Do something else." And what's really important to Kamen? He thinks history will remember him, less for IT, or Ginger, or the Ibot than for First, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. First is Kamen's mission to change how American kids think about engineers and inventors. "They need to be educated so that they won't be brainwashed. They need to have an opportunity to be able to see and learn things so that they can separate that which is important from that which isn't. That which will help them in later life, and that which won't," he says. Link: CBS News

Ray Kurzweil received the 1999 National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest honor in technology, from President Clinton in a White House ceremony. He has also received scores of other national and international awards. He is the recipient of the 1994 Dickson Prize, which is Carnegie Mellon University's top science prize, given to one individual each year. Since its inception in 1970, only one other person has received the Dickson Prize in the field of computer science. In 1990, Ray was voted Engineer of the Year by the over one million readers of Design News Magazine and received their third annual Technology Achievement Award. In 1988, he was named Inventor of the Year by MIT and the Boston Museum of Science. He was named Honorary Chairman for Innovation of the White House Conference on Small Business by President Reagan in 1986 and has received honors from Presidents Reagan and Johnson. He has received nine honorary Doctorates in science, engineering, music and humane letters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hofstra University and other leading colleges and universities. He has received the Grace Murray Hopper Award from the Association for Computing Machine. He has received seven national and international film awards including the CINE Golden Eagle Award and the Gold Medal for Science Education from the International Film and TV Festival of New York. Link: www.kurzweilai.net