William Morse  wrote:

> Tim Tyler  wrote in
> news:c9jnme$2ftf$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org: 
> 
> > William Morse  wrote or quoted:
> >> john_SPAM{at}wilkins.id.au (John Wilkins) wrote in
> >> > William Morse  wrote:
> >> >> john_SPAM{at}wilkins.id.au (John Wilkins) wrote in
> > 
> >> >> > All data storage in the real world is analogue. [...]
> > 
> >> >> Umm - whatever happened to your reductionist stance?
Unless you
> >> >> are denying quantum mechanics, or are arguing for emergent
> >> >> properties, it would seem that your only logically consistent
> >> >> argument would  be that  all data storage in the real world is
> >> >> digital. [...] 
> >> >> 
> >> > You'll have to explain this to me. All I can see is that if
> >> > analogue systems can simulate digital ones (and I don't quite see
> >> > what the appeal to QM has to do with this [...]
> >> 
> >> [...] Last time I looked, a hot topic in computing was quantum 
> >> computing, since it is in fact exactly digital, and one of the
> >> problems in classic silicon systems was that the circuits were
> >> getting small enough that the analog properties were getting jagged.
> > 
> > The "quantum" in "quantum physics" doesn't
mean that it is wholly
> > discrete. 
> > 
> > It means that *some* things are discrete.  Spin and charge, for
> > example. 
> > 
> > Other aspects of quantum physics may not be discrete - and indeed the
> > classical formulations are full of differential equations - and are
> > not discrete at all.
> 
> Very true. And of course many properties depend on whether the property
> is observed or not, as in the light-slit experiment. In fact I seem to
> recall that someone has demonstrated the equivalent, at a quantum level,
> of the old adage that a watched pot never boils! I was mostly just trying
> to catch Dr. John in a logical inconsistency - since in fact some data
> storage is ultimately digital -  but he refuses to admit it :-)
> 
Since Tim just made my case for me, of course I refuse to admiti it :-)

My own understanding of quantum physics is best expressed by Terry
Pratchett's characters when they say "It's probably quantum."

-- 
John S Wilkins PhD - www.wilkins.id.au
  a little emptier, a little spent
  as always by that quiver in the self,
  subjugated, yes, and obedient.  -- Seamus Heaney
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