Mashi and I are helping Greg to prepare the course called “intro to quantum technology” next semester. We want to build a pCom project somehow related to quantum technology.
Our idea is to simulate a qubit, or quantum bit, and how it can represent two numbers at once using probabilities. The user will operate the vector of the Bloch sphere, a spherical representation of the qubit’s states, and a screen will provide some visual indication of the probabilities of landing on either |0> and |1>. The goal will be to get the user familiar with a spherical representation of a qubit, show what we mean when we say that a qubit can be 0 and 1, and also communicate the significance of measurements in quantum mechanics.
Feed a digital cat by rotating a controller as close to the correct orientation as possible!
Participants will be free to rotate the controller however they like, but they’ll notice on screen that their cat companion will react differently according to the angle. Go one way and it will look back at you with excitement, but go another, it’ll look as if it’s about to cry!
If you rotate the controller towards an orientation that is more likely to give the cat a snack, the cat will react positively, but the further away you get, the more unhappy the cat will become. When participants are ready to feed the cat, a timer will begin. When time is up, they’ll get to see whether they were successful at feeding the cat. But even if the controller looks like it’s in the correct orientation, there will be a small chance that the cat doesn’t get any food! Why is that?
After five (or so) rounds of feeding the cat, you’ll see a summary of your efforts from each round: whether you got to feed the cat or had it sprayed, and the probability of each outcome. If you’re not pleased with your results, you can try again! Or let someone else be a better cat sitter.