This provides a sort of quasi-parallelism that allows a quantum system to perform some calculations faster than a classical computer.

No one knows if such a machine has any benefit over a classical computer.

A classical computer has a memory made up of bits, where each bit represents either a one or a zero.

For example: Consider first a classical computer that operates on a three-bit register.

However, alternative forms of computing technology are anticipated which may have superior processing power than classical computers.

It is similar to the three bits repetition code in a classical computer.

Today's computers, called "classical" computers, store information in bits; each bit is either on or off.

It's simply much too complicated for us to simulate using even the largest conceivable classical computers.

A working quantum computer, he said, is likely to perform each operation more slowly than a classical computer.

Therefore, the obvious approach to simulate such a system requires exponential time on a classical computer.