Realizing the Quantum Dream

The concept of a quantum computer and the idea of using the power of quantum mechanics to build one have been around for long; however, it was only in the 1980s that this project looked viable. Since then, many advances have made it possible to build quantum processors with hundreds of qubits. The article introduces this topic and touches upon what can be achieved with a functional quantum computer. It also outlines the intervening challenges in building one. It sets the stage for the technical discussions proffered in the subsequent articles.