Eigensystems co-founder Christopher Ferrie has introduced Quokka, a personal quantum computer emulator designed to increase quantum literacy. The device unveiled at Quantum Australia, is being marketed as the first consumer product in quantum computing and will be listed on Kickstarter.
Quokka is designed to be user-friendly, has programming options, and has a comprehensive library of content and lessons. The device is expected to be available for pre-sale soon on Kickstarter and will ship in mid-2024. Ferrie, a physicist, mathematician, and children’s book author has been a senior lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney since 2017.
Introduction to Quokka: A Quantum Computing Device for Consumers and Educators
Christopher Ferrie, co-founder of Eigensystems, recently unveiled Quokka, a personal quantum computer emulator, at Quantum Australia. This device, being marketed as the first consumer product in quantum computing, is designed to be as user-friendly as a smart device. It has an ecosystem to develop quantum literacy, including programming options and a comprehensive library of content and lessons. The Quokka will be available for pre-sale soon and will ship in mid-2024.
The Quokka is designed to be as user-friendly as any other smart device, making it a significant step towards increasing quantum literacy among the general public. This device is being touted as the first consumer product in quantum computing aimed at education. Initially, There was confusion about the device and whether it was a “real” quantum computer or an educational device.
The Ecosystem of Quokka
The Quokka comes with an extensive ecosystem designed to foster quantum literacy. This includes four different, complementary, and fully integrated ways to program the device through Quokka Basic. Quokka Advanced offers a comprehensive library of content and lessons for those seeking a more in-depth understanding. Additionally, Quokka Stories provides narrative-driven lessons for high school STEM students, reimagined for the quantum age.
Christopher Ferrie
Christopher Ferrie, the co-founder of Eigensystems, is the brain behind Quokka. Born in 1982, Ferrie is a Canadian physicist, mathematician, researcher, and children’s book author. He has a rich academic background. He earned a BSc in mathematical physics, a master’s in applied mathematics, and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics on Theory and Applications of Probability in Quantum Mechanics from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
Ferrie’s career has been marked by significant contributions to the field of quantum computing. From 2013 to 2014, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Quantum Information and Control of the University of New Mexico. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a postdoctoral research associate. Since 2017, he has been working as a senior lecturer at the Centre for Engineer Quantum Systems of the University of Technology Sydney.
By making quantum computing accessible to the general public, Quokka has the potential to revolutionize the way we understand and interact with quantum concepts by getting hands-on experience in a fun way with these devices. As we await the pre-sale and eventual shipping of the Quokka in 2024, it is too early to state the impact, but it could be a fun training tool to help educate future quantum computer scientists.
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