Google is hoping to inspire Children's interest in quantum computing by using one of their favourite digital pastimes: Minecraft
The company's Quantum A.I. Lab Team has collaborated with MinecraftEdu and Caltech's Institute for Quantum Information and Matter to launch a modpack for the popular game called qcraft.
"It lets players experiment with quantum behaviors inside Minecraft's world, with new blocks that exhibit quantum entanglement, superposition, and observer dependency," explained a Google + post from the team.
According to Google, the release is an attempt to capitalise on the popularity of Minecraft among children and encourage them to experiment with quantum physics as they craft their virtual worlds.
"We built the Quantum A.I. Lab to explore the potential of quantum computing, and figure out what questions we should be asking. One question is clear: Where will future quantum computer scientists come from? Our best guess: Minecraft," explained the Google+ post.
"Millions of kids are spending a whole lot of hours in Minecraft, not just digging caves and fighting monsters, but building assembly lines, space shuttles, and programmable computers, all in the name of experimentation and discovery.
Minecraft has sold more than 33m copies on PC, Xbox 360 and mobile devices, becoming in the process one of the biggest brands in children's digital entertainment.
A recent survey of 2,000 6-16 year-olds by marketing firm SuperAwesome found 13% citing Minecraft as their favourite mobile brand, more than double the number who cited Angry Birds or Cut the Rope.
Source: theguardian
Source: theguardian
