Where’s the quantum computer already?

Posted on December 22, 2006 by Gene

This is the 21st century, right? Where are the incredible computers that can do everything instantly and feature the Majel Barrett voice?
I am a sucker for the latest marketing ploys about computer speed. I remember back in the late 80s when Apple’s Mac IIfx came out with the slogan “wicked fast.” That computer, by the way, ran at 40MHz.
Years later, I have a dual-processor G5, which runs at 2000MHz. It’s still not even close to fast enough. One of the projects I am working on right now is a music video. Time is of the essence, I want to get it out into the world quickly; but I also tend to go overboard on imagery. I always come up with ideas that are just too difficult or time consuming. The computer has been rendering one 15-second scene in this video since Wednesday, and it is only halfway done. This is, of course, my fault because the scene in question, built in a 3D program, shows hundreds of mirrors, all reflecting each other and a haunting image of a girl looking into them. The worst thing is that when it is done, I might not even decide to use it in the finished video. Life is cruel that way.
What I really, really want is a computer that connects directly to my brain. Wearing a silly helmet, I want to think of the finished product, visualize it in my mind’s eye, then eliminate all the computer work. I just want to computer to translate my visualization into reality. Instantly.
Is that so much to ask?