The strange science of quantum mechanics promises a revolution in computer power as radical as that following the invention of the transistor in the 1950s.
The recent spurt in American productivity may be the productivity pay-off from the computer revolution, which started 50 years ago with the invention of the transistor.
In 65 short years, the humble transistor evolved into an artificial life form called Watson, a computer system that recognizes natural language and, in 2011, handily defeated two former champions on the TV quiz show Jeopardy.