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，对有效的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，以了解非专业人员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类似视觉游戏的界面来帮助。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量子计算最常见的模型;门模型在某种意义上是通用的，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，以及评估其与不同群体的相对表现。该游戏由一个视觉Plinko（大头针网格）棋盘状系统组成，彩色球沿着不同的轨道沿着棋盘运行。玩家的任务是解决越来越复杂的难题，使用图片瓷砖改变路径的球采取了董事会，或介绍行动的球。在幕后，每一张图片都准确地代表了一个量子力学规则，玩家的瓷砖序列正在编写一个有效的量子算法。然而，至关重要的是，玩家不必了解幕后复杂的数学知识，就能成功完成谜题。因此，这些谜题使玩家能够发展对量子力学的直觉，并生成真正的量子计算算法，这些算法可以在量子计算机上实现。为不同行业的量子非专家开发一种更有效的方法来培养对量子力学的直觉，对于企业了解量子计算对自身环境的影响并随着量子计算的发展保持领先地位至关重要。此外，管理层和政府将越来越多地被期望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。更高水平的量子知识将使来自各种背景的公民能够为自己的企业，行业和学科带来指数级更快和更复杂的数据处理的潜在好处，使他们能够重新想象数据分析和解决各自领域问题的可能性。目前，相对少数的量子计算专家具备这方面的知识和理解。因此，当量子计算必须通过数学和物理学来学习时，更广泛的公民能够获得这种理解的好处是更广泛地理解量子计算在社会各个领域的潜在应用，而这些领域目前没有从这场技术革命中受益。量子素养等同于理解现实的不同方式，因此，在一系列不同领域中构思问题的可能不同方式。量子计算可视化学习工具也可以在让下一代学习者在更早的年龄参与量子计算的构建方面发挥重要作用。我们的目标是发现通过这个难题可视化过程的学习是否也有可能增加传统上在计算机科学，数学和物理的更高级研究中代表性不足的群体的参与度和动机。

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.