First encounters with quantum computing: can games teach quantum reasoning?

预计量子计算将在未来几年为广泛的行业带来深远的好处以及潜在的安全问题。目前，除了物理和数学专家之外，对有效量子计算推理所需的技能几乎没有了解或专业知识。这项工作的目标是与来自不同年龄和部门的参与者合作开展一个试点项目，以了解非专业人士如何发展他们对反直觉量子计算概念的理解，以及是否可以通过使用视觉游戏式界面来辅助这一点。我们的项目合作伙伴Quarks Interactive开发了一款游戏，它在视觉上，而不是在数学上，代表了最常见的量子计算模型；门模型是通用的，因为它可以模拟所有的量子信息处理。这个项目将使我们能够开发和测试这个游戏作为学习工具的有效性，并评估它在不同群体中的相对表现。这款游戏包含了一个视觉上的Plinko（游戏邦注：针格）棋盘系统，其中彩色的球沿着不同的轨道沿着棋盘移动。玩家的任务是通过图片来改变球在棋盘上的路径，或者在球上引入动作来解决越来越复杂的谜题。在幕后，每张图片都准确地代表了一个量子力学规则，玩家的贴图序列正在编写一个有效的量子算法。然而，至关重要的是，玩家并不需要掌握背后复杂的数学知识就能成功完成谜题。因此，谜题使玩家能够发展对量子力学的直觉，并产生真正的量子计算算法，这可以在量子计算机上实现。为不同行业的量子非专业人士开发一种更有效的方式来培养对量子力学的直觉，对于企业理解量子计算对自身环境的影响，并随着量子计算的进步保持领先地位至关重要。此外，管理层和政府将越来越多地做出与量子计算相关的决策，并且必须具备量子知识，以避免成为误解和炒作的受害者。更高水平的量子素养将使来自各种背景的公民能够将指数级更快和更复杂的数据处理的潜在好处带到他们自己的企业，行业和学科，使他们能够重新想象数据分析和解决问题的可能性。目前，拥有这方面知识和理解的量子计算专家相对较少。与目前必须通过数学和物理来学习量子计算相比，更广泛的公民能够获得这种理解的好处是，因此对量子计算在社会各个领域的潜在应用有了更广泛的理解，而这些领域目前还没有从这场技术革命中受益。量子素养等同于理解现实的一种不同的方式，因此，在一系列不同的领域中，一种潜在的不同的思考问题的方式。量子计算可视化学习工具也可以在早期让下一代学习者参与量子计算的构建模块方面发挥重要作用。我们的目标是发现通过这种谜题可视化过程的学习是否也有可能增加在计算机科学、数学和物理等更高级的研究中传统上代表性不足的群体的参与度和积极性。

Quantum computing is expected to have far-reaching benefits as well as potential security concerns for a wide range of industries in coming years. At present, there is little understanding of, or expertise in, the skills required for effective quantum computational reasoning outside specialists in physics and mathematics. The goal of this work is to conduct a pilot project in collaboration with participants from across a range of ages and sectors to develop an understanding of how non-specialists develop their understanding of counter-intuitive quantum computational concepts and whether this can be assisted through the use of a visual game-like interface. Our project partner Quarks Interactive have developed a game which visually, rather than mathematically, represents the most common model of quantum computing; the gate model which is universal in the sense that it can model all quantum information processing. This project will allow us to develop and test the effectiveness of this game as a learning tool, as well as to assess its relative performance with different groups. The game consists of a visual Plinko (grid of pins) board like system where coloured balls travel down the board following different tracks. Players are tasked to solve increasingly complex puzzles using picture tiles to change the path the balls take down the board, or to introduce actions on the balls. Behind the scenes each picture tile accurately represents a quantum mechanical rule and the player's sequence of tiles is writing a functioning quantum algorithm. However, crucially, the player does not have to have any knowledge of the complex mathematics behind the scenes to be able to successfully complete the puzzles. The puzzles therefore enable the player to develop an intuition about quantum mechanics as well as generating genuine quantum computing algorithms, which can be implemented on quantum computers. Developing a more effective way for quantum non-specialists across diverse industries to develop intuition about quantum mechanics is crucial for businesses to understand the implications of quantum computing for their own context and to stay ahead of the game as quantum computing advances. Additionally, management and government will increasingly be expected to make decisions related to quantum computing and will have to become quantum literate to avoid falling victim to misconceptions and hype.Higher levels of quantum literacy will enable citizens from a wide variety of backgrounds to bring the potential benefits of exponentially faster and more complex data processing to their own businesses, industries and disciplines, enabling them to re-imagine the possibilities for data analysis and problem solving in their fields. At present, a relatively small number of quantum computing experts have this knowledge and understanding. The benefit of a broader range of citizens being able to access this understanding than is currently possible when quantum computing must be learned through maths and physics, is therefore a wider understanding of the potential applications of quantum computing in diverse areas of society, which currently do not benefit from this technological revolution. Quantum literacy equates to a different way of understanding reality and therefore, a potentially different way of conceiving of problems in a range of diverse fields.A quantum computing visualization learning tool could also have an important function in engaging the next generation of learners in the building blocks of quantum computing at an earlier age. We aim to discover whether learning through this puzzle visualization process also potentially increases engagement and motivation in groups who are traditionally under-represented in more advanced study of computer science, mathematics and physics.