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Quantum computing has earned its place on the Gartner hype cycle. Pundits have claimed that it will take over and change everything forever. The reality will likely be somewhat less dramatic, although its fair to say that quantum computers could spell the end for conventional cryptography. Clearly, this has implications for technologies like blockchain, which are slated to support financial systems of the future.

While the Bitcoin system, for example, is calculated to keep classical mining computers busy until 2140, brute-force decryption using a quantum computer could theoretically mine every token almost instantaneously. More powerful digital ledger technologies based on quantum cryptography could level the playing field.

All of this presupposes that quantum computing will become usable and affordable on a widespread scale. As things stand, this certainly seems achievable. Serious computing players, including IBM, Honeywell, Google, and Microsoft, as well as newer specialist startups, all have active programs that are putting quantum computing in the cloud right now and inviting engagement from the wider computing community. Introduction packs and development kits are available to help new users get started.

Democratizing Access

These are important moves that will almost certainly drive further advancement as users come up with more diverse and demanding workloads and figure out ways of handling them using quantum technology. Equally important is the anticipated democratizing effect of widespread cloud access, which should bring more people from a wider variety of backgrounds into contact with quantum to understand it, use it, and influence its ongoing development.

Although its here, quantum computing remains at a very experimental stage. In the future, commercial cloud services could provide affordable access in the same way that scientific or banking organizations can today rent cloud AI applications to do complex workloads that are billed according to the number of computer cycles used.

Hospitals, for example, are taking advantage of genome sequencing apps hosted on AI accelerators in hyperscale data centers to identify genetic disorders in newborn babies. The process costs just a few dollars and the results are back within minutes, enabling timely and potentially life-saving intervention by clinicians.

Quantum computing as a service could further transform healthcare as well as deeply affect many other fields such as materials science. Simulating a caffeine molecule, for example, is incredibly difficult to do with a classical computer, demanding the equivalent of over 100 years of processing time. A quantum computer can complete the task in seconds. Other applications that could benefit include climate analysis, transportation planning, bioinformatics, financial services, encryption, and codebreaking.

A Real Technology Roadmap

For all its power, quantum computing isnt here to kill off classical computing or turn the entire world upside down. Because quantum bits (qubits) can be in both states, 0 and 1, unlike conventional binary bits that are in one state or another, they can store exponentially more information. However, their state when measured is determined by probability, so quantum is only suited to certain types of algorithms. Others can be handled better by classical computers.

In addition, building and running a quantum computer is incredibly difficult and complex. On top of that, the challenges intensify as we try to increase the number of qubits in the system. As with any computer, more bits corresponds to more processing power, so increasing the number of bits is a key objective for quantum-computer architects.

Keeping the system stable, with a low error rate, for longer periods is another objective. One way to achieve this is by cryogenically cooling the equipment to near absolute zero to eliminate thermal noise. Furthermore, extremely pure and clean RF sources are needed. Im excited that, at Rohde & Schwarz, we are working with our academic partners to apply our ultra-low-noise R&S SGS100A RF sources (Fig. 1) to help increase qubit count and stability.

1. Extremely pure and clean RF sources like the R&S SGS100A are needed in quantum-computing applications.

The RF source is one of the most important building blocks as it determines the amount of errors that must be corrected in the process of reading out the quantum-computation results. A cleaner RF signal increases quantum-system stability, reducing errors due to quantum decoherence that would result in information loss.

Besides the low phase and amplitude noise requirements, multichannel solutions are essential to scale up the quantum-computing system. Moreover, as we start to consider scalability, a small form factor of the signal sources becomes even more relevant. Were combining our RF expertise with the software and system know-how of our partners in pursuit of a complete solution.

Equipment Needs

In addition, scientists are constantly looking for new material to be applied in quantum-computing chips and need equipment to help them accurately determine the exact properties. Then, once the new quantum chip is manufactured, its resonance frequencies must be measured to ensure that no undesired resonances exist. Rohde & Schwarz has developed high-performance vector network analyzers (Fig. 2) for both tasks and can assist in the debugging of the quantum-computing system itself.

2. VNAs such as the R&S ZNA help determine properties of material used in quantum computing.

Our partners are relying on us to provide various other test-and-measurement solutions to help them increase the performance and capabilities of quantum computers. The IQ mixing is a crucial part of a quantum computer, for example, and our spectrum analyzers help to characterize and calibrate the IQ mixers and suppress undesired sidebands. Moreover, R&S high-speed oscilloscopes (Fig. 3) help enable precise temporal synchronization of signals in the time domain, which is needed to set up and debug quantum-computing systems.

3. High-speed oscilloscopes, for example, the R&S RTP, can be used to set up and debug quantum-computing systems.

As we work with our partners in the quantum world to improve our products for a better solution fit, at the same time were learning how to apply that knowledge to other products in our portfolio. In turn, this helps to deliver even better performing solutions.

While cloud access will enable more companies and research institutes to take part in the quantum revolution, bringing this technology into the everyday requires a lot more work on user friendliness. That involves moving away from the temperature restrictions, stabilizing quantum computers with a high number of qubits, and all for a competitive price.

Already, however, we can see that quantum has the potential to profoundly change everything it touches. No hype is needed.

Sebastian Richter is Vice President of Market Segment ICR (Industry, Components, Research & Universities) at Rohde & Schwarz.

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Quantum Computing in the CloudCan It Live Up to the Hype? - Electronic Design

From artificial intelligence to IoT, each technology trend is driven by finding solutions to a problem, some more successfully than others. Right now, the worlds technology community is focused on harnessing the exponential opportunities promised by quantum computing. While it may be some time before we see the true benefits of this emerging technology, and while nothing is certain, the possibilities are great.

What is Quantum Computing?

Capable of solving problems up to 100 million times faster than traditional computers, quantum computing has the potential to comprehensively speed up processes on a monumental scale.

Quantum computers cost millions of dollars to produce, so it perhaps goes without saying that these computers are not yet ready for mass production and rollout. However, their powerful potential to transform real-world supply chain problems should not (and cannot) be ignored. Quantum bits (qubits) can occupy more than one state at the same time (unlike their binary counterparts), embracing nuance and complexity. These particles are interdependent on each other and analogous to the variables of a complex supply chain. Qubits can be linked to other qubits, a process known as entanglement. This is a key hallmark that separates quantum from classical computing.

It is possible to adjust an interaction between these qubits so that they can sense each other. The system then naturally tries to arrange itself in such a way that it consumes as little energy as possible says Christoph Becher, a Professor in Experimental Physics at Saarland University.

Right now, tech giants such as Microsoft, IBM and Intel continue to lead the charge when it comes to the development of quantum computers. While continuous improvement will still be required in the years to come, many tech companies are already offering access to quantum computing features.

According to Forbes contributor Paul Smith-Goodson, IBM is committed to providing clients with quantum computing breakthroughs capable of solving todays impossible problems. Jay Gambetta, Vice President, IBM Quantum, said: With advancements across software and hardware, IBMs full-stack approach delivers the most powerful quantum systems in the industry to our users.

This is good news for multiple industries but in particular those areas of the supply chain where problems around efficiency occur.

Preventing Failure of Supply Chain Optimisation Engines

Current optimisation systems used in inventory allocation and order promising fail to meet the expectations of supply chain planners for a few reasons. Sanjeev Trehan, a member of the Enterprise Transformation Group at TATA Consultancy Services, highlighted two of the key reasons for this in a discussion around digital supply chain disruption:

Inadequate system performance capabilities lie at the heart of both planning problems. By speeding up these processes on an exponential scale, these problems are almost completely eradicated, and the process is made more efficient.

Practical Data and Inventory Applications

As manufacturers incorporate more IoT sensors into their daily operations, they harvest vast amounts of enterprise data. Quantum computing can handle these complex variables within a decision-making model with a high degree of excellence. Harmonising various types of data from different sources makes it especially useful for optimising resource management and logistics within the supply chain.

Quantum computing could be applied to improve dynamic inventory allocation, as well as helping manufacturers govern their energy distribution, water usage, and network design. The precision of this technology allows for a very detailed account of the energy used on the production floor in real-time, for example. Microsoft has partnered with Dubais Electricity and Water Authority in a real-life example of using quantum for grid and utility management.

Logistics

Quantum computing holds huge potential for the logistics area of the supply chain, says Shiraz Sidat, Operations Manager of Speedel, a Leicestershire based B2B courier firm that works in the supply chain of a number of aerospace and manufacturing companies.

Quantum offers real-world solutions in areas such as scheduling, planning, routing and traffic simulations. There are huge opportunities to optimise energy usage, create more sustainable travel routes and make more informed financially-savvy decisions. The sheer scale of speed-up on offer here could potentially increase sustainability while saving time and money he adds.

TATA Consultancy Services provide a very good example to support Shirazs statement.

Lets say a company plans to ship orders using ten trucks over three possible routes. This means the company has 310 possibilities or 59,049 solutions to choose from. Any classical computer can solve this problem with little effort. Now lets assume a situation where a transport planner wants to simulate shipments using 40 trucks over the same three routes. The possibilities, in this case, are approximately 12 Quintillion a tough ask for a classical computer. Thats where quantum computers could potentially come in.

Looking Ahead

Quantum computing has the potential to disrupt the planning landscape. Planners can run plans at the flick of a button, performing scenario simulations on the fly.

At present, the full use of quantum computers in the supply chain would be expensive and largely impractical. Another current issue is the higher rate of errors (when compared to traditional computers) experienced due to the excessive speed at which they operate. Experts and companies around the world are working to address and limit these errors.

As mentioned earlier in the article, many tech companies are providing aspects of quantum computing through an as-a-service model, which could well prove the most successful path for future widespread use. As-a-service quantum computing power would help enterprises access these capabilities at a fraction of the cost, in a similar way such models have helped businesses utilise simulation technology, high-performance computing and computer-aided engineering.

Alongside AI, the IoT, blockchain and automation, quantum computing is one of many digital tools likely to shape, streamline and optimise the future of the supply chain. As with all emerging technology, it requires an open mind and cautious optimism.

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Supply Chain: The Quantum Computing Conundrum | Logistics - Supply Chain Digital - The Procurement & Supply Chain Platform

Researchers led by City College of New York physicist Pouyan Ghaemi report the development of a quantum algorithm with the potential to study a class of many-electron quantums system using quantum computers. Their paper, entitled Creating and Manipulating a Laughlin-Type =1/3 Fractional Quantum Hall State on a Quantum Computer with Linear Depth Circuits, appears in the December issue of PRX Quantum, a journal of the American Physical Society.

Quantum physics is the fundamental theory of nature which leads to formation of molecules and the resulting matter around us, said Ghaemi, assistant professor in CCNYs Division of Science. It is already known that when we have a macroscopic number of quantum particles, such as electrons in the metal, which interact with each other, novel phenomena such as superconductivity emerge.

However, until now, according to Ghaemi, tools to study systems with large numbers of interacting quantum particles and their novel properties have been extremely limited.

Our research has developed a quantum algorithm which can be used to study a class of many-electron quantum systems using quantum computers. Our algorithm opens a new venue to use the new quantum devices to study problems which are quite challenging to study using classical computers. Our results are new and motivate many follow up studies, added Ghaemi.

On possible applications for this advancement, Ghaemi, whos also affiliated with the Graduate Center, CUNY noted: Quantum computers have witnessed extensive developments during the last few years. Development of new quantum algorithms, regardless of their direct application, will contribute to realizeapplications of quantum computers.

I believe the direct application of our results is to provide tools to improve quantum computing devices. Their direct real-life applicationwould emerge when quantum computers can be used for daily life applications.

His collaborators included scientists from: Western Washington University, University of California, Santa Barbara; Google AI Quantum and theUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

About the City College of New York Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Emsi puts at $1.9 billion CCNYs annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the for dollar return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 16,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.

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CCNY & partners in quantum algorithm breakthrough | The City College of New York - The City College of New York News

TOKYO -- Artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud technology, as well as quantum computing, will be forces that shape the near future of the IT industry, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told the Nikkei Global Management Forum in Tokyo on Wednesday.

While pointing out that some analysts estimate AI could add up to $16 trillion to global productivity over the next decade or so, Krishna said: "We are only 4% of the journey there," adding, "Our assertion is that every company will become anAI company."

The annual forum brings together influential corporate leaders from around the world to share their views on the role of business in society. This year's theme centers on responding to an unprecedented time of change brought on by the COVID-19pandemic.

Read about Day 1 of the forum here.

Krishna, who took the helm at IBM in April, stressed the importance of the hybrid cloud, saying that"the hybrid approach has a lot more value for our clients," and noting that the technology will "unlock two and a half times more value than a singular public cloud."

Hybrid cloud technology enables data to be shared between two or more clouds, giving businesses access to public and private clouds at the same time and allowing more flexibility.

Krishna also stressed the importance of quantum computing, which he said "can unlock many benefits for both industry and society that are beyond the reach of today's computers."

"We believe within three to five yearsyou can begin to tackle problems that are beyond the reach of normal computers," he said, citing potential applications. "You can solve problems around molecules like lithium hydride, which is an element in many electric batteries."

However, Krishnaalso pointed out that it is necessary to improve accuracy in quantum computing in order to tap its full potential, saying, "Today, these computers have a lot of errors. ... It is an issue that has to be solved."

Rakuten CEO takes on Japan's entrenched telecom incumbents

Online retailer Rakuten's membership base and credit card business model provided the impetus for launching the company's new wireless service, Rakuten Mobile, chairman and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani told the forum.

"Creating an entry point for inviting customers was the initial concern," Mikitani said of Rakuten's ambitious new telecoms carrier, Japan's fourth. Since September, Rakuten Mobile has generated headlines with a subscription rate of 2,980 yen ($28) a month, about half the fee charged by competitors NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank Mobile.

"We already had a track record in acquiring customers, and we have a membership of 100 million," Mikitani said of the e-commerce business. "In credit cards, we have Rakuten Card and now it is the No. 1 card in Japan. What I wanted to do was eliminate all the paperwork and reduce the cost," he said, a model he has applied to the telecoms business.

Rakuten's sales point for mobile subscribers is its integration with the company's e-commerce ecosystem. The 2,980 yen monthly service fee translates to points that can be redeemed for purchases on Rakuten's marketplace. "So basically your phone will be free of charge," Mikitani suggested.

The young telecom carrier was also helped by fortunate timing, as its launch coincided with the election of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. A former telecommunications minister, Suga has long been a critic of the high rates charged by Japan's three incumbent wireless carriers. "Prime Minister Suga will herald a new change," Mikitani said.

"Current cellphone businesses have about 600 interconnected mainframe machines, but I brought in a breakthrough so that everything is on the cloud, even the base stations," Mikitani said. "Our operating costs are lower because the core technology is 100% virtualized."

The 55-year-old executive, who appeared youthful on stage in a black T-shirt and sport coat, still considers himself an entrepreneur despite Rakuten's strong growth over the past quarter century.

"My friends, including the president of a large cellphone company in the U.S., said, 'Miki, good luck,'" he recalled. "They didn't think that I would be successful. As an entrepreneur, when I'm challenged by such people, I get even more motivated to make [my business] successful," Mikitani said.

SCB Abacus uses AI to serve underbanked customers amid pandemic

SCB Abacus, the fintech arm of Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank, is finding new customers despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are faced with challenges from weak demand and deteriorating financial health. Most incumbent players are focusing on less risky customers," said CEO Sutapa Amornvivat.

"We feel that small businesses' key problem is access to cash, and a lot of this can be solved by using alternative data that traditional banks don't look at to underwrite and help them through this crisis," Sutapa said.

Using artificial intelligence created by Amazon Web Services, Abacus launched three years ago as Thailand's first digital lending platform.

"The fundamentals of lending are still the same, but we provide a customer experience that fits their backgrounds," Sutapa said. Most of the underbanked are sole proprietors who operate with cash and work beyond regular banking hours. Digital banking is convenient for such customers, especially as COVID restricts public transportation and mobility.

'Working with SCB has a synergy because Abacus has innovation and SCB has distribution," she said.

Aside from commercial banking, Abacus is exploring credit rating and fraud detection services not only for the financial sector but also for equipment rental and leasing companies.

While AI has helped Abacus serve the unbanked in Thailand, Sutapa acknowledged the potential inequality it can create. "Mobile penetration does not translate into digital literacy," she said, adding that investing in digital literacy is key. "I strongly believe that's a public good, and that's where the government comes in."

The three-year-old company is taking a step-by-step approach to expansion, first in Thailand, then in Asia, before moving on to the rest of the world. "We are looking for strategic investors with networks and technology to help us expand into the region," Sutapa said.

"Data and technology we can purchase, but trust needs time to build. It needs to be earned, not just with customers but also with regulators," she said.

Trip.com CEO sees pent-up demand for Japan tourism

Trip.com's vast network of contacts helped it set up programs to help its clients weather the travel industry slowdown caused by COVID-19, particularly the small clients that make up the bulk of its business, said CEO Jane Jie Sun.

The Shanghai-based company's coronavirus strategy included a 2 billion yuan ($303 million) disaster relief fund to help clients worldwide and small loans to help smaller players stay afloat. It was also able to buy perishable inventory held by certain clients and find buyers at a discount. For example, rooms at Hyatt hotels normally cost $300 to $400 per night, but Trip.com was able to offer them to customers for future stays at $100 per night.

"Customers were able to get a good deal," Sun said. "In return, they have to prepay for that service, so our partners can get cash flow."

Domestic travel in China has recovered to 80% of its pre-COVID level, Sun said. As international travel remains difficult, Trip.com has shifted its focus to promoting domestic travel in the countries where it operates.

Livestream promotions for domestic travel in July, for example, reaped $3.9 million in gross merchandise volume in Japan, with 23,000 hotel room nights booked.

"There's a lot of pent-up demand for tourism in Japan," said Sun. "Japan is very favored by Chinese tourists because of the hospitality of Japanese people, and there's a lot of variety -- mountains, ski resorts, warm springs. Thirdly, it's very close by," Sun said.

"Some of our high-end customers visit Japan up to 12 times a year," she said.

Japan's tourism industry is heavily dependent on Chinese visitors, welcoming 6.9 million arrivals last year. Sun said she travels to Japan every year and hopes to ski in Niseko this year and attend the Tokyo Olympics next summer.

Sun credited Trip.com's young workforce for the company's growth. The average age of Trip.com's 41,000 employees is 26. A program called Baby Tiger encourages employee innovation and promotes engineers to top business positions.

Additionally, Sun has made the advancement of female employees a priority. Sun is one of the few women CEOs among China's major tech companies.

Although Trip.com pays a small bonus of 800 yuan ($120) to new mothers, an additional 3,000 yuan is paid when the child begins school. Taxi rides are also subsidized for pregnant employees, and the company financially supports women employees who have their eggs frozen to encourage them to pursue advanced degrees, Sun said.

AI has role in future of public health: Microsoft President Smith

As the novel coronavirus continues to disrupt lives around the world, the future of public health is "really about using AI," said Brad Smith President of Microsoft, speaking to the forum earlier.

"We cannot leave COVID-19 behind," Smith said, adding, "We could face another pandemic in our future," in remarks delivered via video link to the Nikkei Global Management Forum. Smith said that AI can help with "managing hospital resources, to understand where resources are, where there are shortages, where things can be moved."

As concern grows over how technology companies use people's personal data, Smith said Microsoft is committed to transparency and works to ensure that its rules safeguard data to build consumers' trust in the tech company.

Sustainability is another hot topic for Microsoft. Smith vowed to "create digital technology services to empower the world and to better measure, monitor and ultimately reduce the carbon emissions."

He acknowledged that his company "consume[s] energy to power the world's computers," and said, "we need to do our part to become more efficient, and use renewable energy and remove carbon from the environment."

Nitori CEO says furniture retailer speeding up overseas expansion

In an effort to accelerate its global expansion, Akio Nitori, chairman and CEO of Japanese furniture retailer Nitori Holdings, told the forum that "from next year, [we] want to open 10 to 20 [new stores] every year" overseas.

The company currently has stores in Taiwan, the U.S. and China. Nitori said he has high hopes for the Chinese market, particularly, where incomes are still rising, adding that "winning in the Chinese market means successes in the world."

In Japan, despite Nitori stores in shopping malls having to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company has seen sales jump as many people turn their homes into offices and classrooms.

He said that COVID-19 has "changed consumers' shopping behavior," and that many of them are spending less time in physical stores. But at the same time, the number of app users is increasing, he said.

Nitori said he "sees that the prospect of reaching [sales of] 100 billion yen ($951 million)" soon comes from app users. At present, those customers account for around 70 billion yen of sales, adding that app users spend more than twice as much as other customers.

The coronavirus outbreak has led to lockdowns in many countries, causing logistics disruptions worldwide. Nitori said his company had difficulty obtaining materials from China to make sofas due to the disruption. He said his company is now "rebuilding the supply chain" and pledged "not to rely on one country."

Central Retail CEO optimistic about recovery of Thai economy

Yol Phokasub presented not only a positive outlook for Central Retail's business, but also made a pitch for global companies to relocate to Thailand.

"Look at the country of Thailand. People know it as a place for tourism. At the moment, it is one of the few countries in the world that is safe to live and work [in]," said the CEO of Central Group's retail arm. "I would invite CEOs to come and work from Thailand, so you have better peace of mind."

Yol said that the news of a vaccine created by Pfizer that has shown 90% efficacy in preventing the coronavirus was welcome, but that he was not pegging Central Retail's fortunes on the development.

"I don't think we can rely on whatever the outcome is," Yol said. "It doesn't mean that everything will reset and go back to normal. We have to adapt to a new life."

Central Retail recorded a loss of 2.6 billion baht ($86 million) in the second quarter ended in June, with fashion and food sales suffering the biggest hit.

Asked whether customer behavior has changed during the pandemic, Yol, a computer scientist by training, had a different take. "Before the pandemic, we talked about technological disruption. When you look into the details, it's not a technology disruption, it's a customer disruption. Customers changed, and technology helped them assert the change."

Yol foresees an uneven post-pandemic recovery for businesses and industries. Central Group was in a fortuitous position as Thailand went into lockdown in April. Two months earlier, it had the biggest initial public offering in Thai history, worth $2.5 billion.

Yol said the capital from the IPO would be used for expansion and partnerships in the three countries where Central Retail operates: Thailand, Vietnam and Italy.

Philip Morris Japan President Goh: inclusive corporate culture drives transformation

Diversity and inclusion are helping Philip Morris to transform itself from a traditional tobacco company into one focused on smoke-free alternatives, said Shea Lih Goh, president of its Japanese affiliate.

The company announced its commitment in 2016 to gradually withdraw from the business of making and selling cigarettes, Goh told forum attendees.

"It's a major transformation requiring changes across the whole company," Goh said, "having a very diverse workforce and creating an inclusive workplace for everyone, so that we can all get different ideas, a lot of perspectives and have the innovation and drive to reach our ambitious goal."

Goh said one of the focuses at Philip Morris Japan is to close the gender salary gap, which is a foundational step in creating a gender-balanced organization.

In 2016, the company was awarded the Equal-Salary Certification as the first company outside Switzerland to be recognized by the Swiss nonprofit organization Foundation Equal-Salary. It has achieved certification annually for the past four years.

"We proudly closed the salary gap to only 0.4% in 2018. And that's remarkable ... if you compare [that] to the average in Japan, which is around 24%," Goh said.

She borrowed the words of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris saying, "I'm the first female president of Philip Morris Japan and I certainly know and hope I won't be the last."

Financial services need to accelerate investment in digital: FactSet CEO

Despite the pandemic hitting the bottom lines of businesses around the world, more companies are increasing their investment in digital technology, Philip Snow, CEO of financial information provider FactSet, told the forum.

Snow stressed that the coronavirus pandemic "is causing a lot of companies to invest more quickly" in cutting-edge technologies.

He noted that the financial industry has lagged behind when it comes to applying cutting-edge technology to their business, saying, "There's a lot of pressure within financial services on the cost side." But the industry "need[s] to invest in digital transformation themselves to be more efficient, whether it's [in] Japan or in any other country."

Regarding FactSet's strategy for growth in Asia, Snow said what he is "excited about is the wealth markets" in the region, adding, "There's a huge amount of wealth that's been built in Asia."

With regard to nurturing talent and creating a better working culture, Snow said, "Creating that culture of innovation is creating an environment where people feel comfortable submitting their ideas."

To foster those new ideas, FactSet holds hackathons in conjunction with clients, in which software developers compete to develop new products and services.

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Hybrid cloud and quantum computing to shape IT: IBM chief - Nikkei Asian Review

ICT

At the recently concluded Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon 2020) by PLDT Enterprise, Kazuhiro Gomi, president and CEO, NTT Research, shared the fundamental research milestones coming out of its three labs: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, and the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, that are hoped to lead to monumental tech innovations.

The three-day virtual convention drew in more than 3,000 views during the live stream broadcast of the plenary sessions and breakout sessions covering various topics.

Gomi headlined the second day with his topic Upgrading Reality, a glimpse into breakthrough research that NTT Research is currently working on that could hasten digital transformations.

PLDT sets up Data Privacy and Information Security Committee

PLDT Home broadband service expands 46% nationwide

In a discussion with Cathy Yap-Yang, FVP and head Corporate Communications, PLDT, Gomi elaborated on next-generation technologies, particularly the Bio Digital Twin project, that could potentially be game-changing in the medical field, quantum computing, and advanced cryptography.

Bido Digital Twin

The Bio Digital Twin is an initiative where a digital replica of a patients internal system functions first as a model for possible testing of procedures and chemical reactions and seeing possible results before actual application to the person.

We are trying to create an electronic replica of the human body. If we are able to create something like that, the future of clinical and medical activities will be very different, Gomi said. If we have a precise replica of your human body, you can predict what type of disease or what type of problem you might have maybe three years down the road. Or, if your doctor needs to test a new drug for you, he can do so onto the digital twin.

NTT Research is a fundamental research organization in Silicon Valley that carries out advanced research for some of the worlds most important and impactful technologies, including quantum computing, cryptography, information security, and medical and health informatics.

Computing power

However, to get there and make the Bio Digital Twin possible, there are hurdles from various disciplines, including the component of computing power.

Gomi explained that people believed that todays computers can do everything, but in reality, it might actually take years to solve complex problems, whereas a quantum computer could solve these problems in seconds.

There are different kinds of quantum computers, but all are based upon quantum physics. At NTT Research, Gomi revealed that their group is working on a quantum computer called a coherent Ising machine which could solve combinatorial optimization problems.

We may be able to bring those superfast machines to market, to reality, much quicker. That is what we are aiming for, he said.

Basically, the machine, using many parameters and complex optimization, finds the best solution in a matter of seconds which may take months or years using conventional computers.

Some examples where quantum computing may be applied include lead optimization problems such as effects on small molecule drugs, peptide drugs, and Biocatalyst, or resource optimization challenges such as logistics, traffic control, or using wireless networks. Gomi also expounded on compressed sensing cases, including use in astronomical telescopes, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography.

Quantum computing

Apart from quantum computing, Gomi reiterated the issues of cybersecurity and privacy. Today, encryption is able to address those challenges but it would soon require a more advanced and sophisticated type of technology if we are to upgrade reality.

From the connected world, obviously we want to exchange more data among each other, but we have to make sure that security and privacy are maintained. We have to have those things together to get the best out of a connected world, he said.

Among next-generation advanced encryptions, Gomi highlighted Attribute-Based Encryption where various decryption keys define access control of the encrypted data. For example, depending on the user (or the type of key he/she has) what they are allowed to view is different or controlled by the key issuers.

He noted that in the next couple of years, we should be able to commercialize this type of technology. We can maintain privacy while encouraging the sharing of data with this mechanism.

Gomi reiterated that we are at the stage of all kinds of digital transformations.

Digital transformation

Those digital transformations are making our lives so much richer and business so much more interesting and efficient. I would imagine those digital transformations will continue to advance even more, he said.

However, there are limiting factors that could impede or slow down those digital transformations such as energy consumption, Moores law of limitation as we cannot expect too much of the capacities of the electronic chips from current computers, and the issues on privacy and security. Hence, we need to address those factors.

PH Digicon 2020 is the annual convention organized by PLDT Enterprise which gathered global industry leaders to speak on the latest advancements in the digital landscape. This years roster of speakers included tech experts and heads from Cisco, Nokia, Salesforce, NTT Research, and goop CEO and multi-awarded Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow who headlined the first virtual run.

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NTTs Kazuhiro Gomi says Bio Digital Twin, quantum computing the next-gen tech - Backend News

A Scoville Heat Scale For Emerging Technologies in 2021

A couple of years back I wrote an article in FORBES called a A Scoville Heat Scale For Measuring Cybersecurity. The Scoville Scale is a measurement chart used to rate the heat of peppers or other spicy food. For that article, I devised my own Scoville Scale-like heat characterizations of the cyber threats and rated the heat on the corresponding cyber security impact.

As we enter a new decade of transformation, I am applying that same Scoville scale to the topic of emerging technologies. It could be surmised that all these emerging technologies are already hot on a heat scale as they are already facilitating exponential changes in our society. True but some areas of emerging tech are further along than others in how it will be impacting our lives in the coming year.

Health Technologies:

Medicine doctor and robotics research and analysis, Scientist diagnose checking coronavirus or ... [+] covid-19 testing result with modern virtual screen in laboratory, Medical technology and inhibition of disease outbreaks.

I will start my measurement activities at the hottest emerging tech measured on Scoville heat scale. Health and medical technologies are really a diverse area of tech that has been impacted by Covid19, especially in research, development and prototyping. Healthcare technologies include everything from biotechnology, nano deliveries of therapeutics, drug discovery, telemedicine (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality), genomics, cybernetics, bionics, wearables, robotics, and the internet of medical things. All of these component technologies are now being fused with new capabilities in machine learning/artificial intelligence algorithms for better diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Heat Scale Rating: Trinidad Scorpion Pepper. Covid19 has pushed us to explore and bring to market new heath related technologies. We are on the way to smarter health and medical care and this technology area is both multidimensional and very promising.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine learning (AI/ML):

Conceptual background of Artificial intelligence , humans and cyber-business on programming ... [+] technology element ,3d illustration

The cognitive technologies AI & ML also have quite a hot measurement on the Scoville pepper scale. AI & ML are not necessarily new innovations, but they are ones that still have yet to reach full potential. In 2020, both AI & ML started to flourish and it will continue to do so throughout 2021. At its core, AI & ML are really about data integration, quality (image definition) and collection and processing of that data that allows for meaningful analytics. Applications for AI are increasing in variety and capability (especially automation)and are now being applied to almost every industry vertical, including finance, healthcare, energy, transportation, and cybersecurity. Most intriguing, but only in the earliest stages is AL/ML neural human augmentation. Neuromorphic technologies, and human/computer interface will extend our human brain capacities, memories and capabilities. Please see my recent FORBES article for a more in-depth analysis on the merging of human and machine:

Heat Scale Rating: Chocolate Haberno. AI & ML are certainly making significant impact to anything and everything tech related. Its very hot but will get hotter as we continue to aim higher for sentient capabilities in our machines. Of course that capability may turn into a double edged sword and we may end up having regrets in the not so distant future.

The Internet of Things (IoT):

Smart city and communication network concept. 5G. LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). Wireless ... [+] communication.

IoT refers to the general idea of things that are readable, recognizable, locatable, addressable, and/or controllable via the Internet. Essentially this connotes physical objects communicating with each other via sensors. The IoT networks include everything from edge computing devices, to home appliances, from wearable technology, to cars. In essence, IoT represents the melding of the physical world and the digital world. According to Gartner, there are nearly 26 billion networked devices currently on the Internet of Things in 2020, That actually may be a conservative estimate as more and more people are getting connected to the internet in a remote work oriented world. IoT is being boosted by edge computing combined with next gen microchips, and lower costs of manufacturing sensors.

Heat Scale Rating: Scotch Bonnet. IoT is still a work in progress, it is growing rapidly in size, and faces a myriad of regulatory and cybersecurity challenges. Eventually it will be the backbone of smart cities. The connectivity and operational expansion of IoT infrastructures and devices will be integral to the conduct of many business and personal activities in the near future.In 2021 the IoT roll out will continue.

5G:

5G (5th generation) communication technology concept. Smart city. Telecommunication.

In 2020 advanced 5G and wireless networks have started to bring benefits, including faster speeds, higher traffic capacities, lower latency, and increased reliability to consumers and businesses. As it grows, 5G will impact commercial verticals such as retail, health, and financial by enabling processing, communications, and analytics in real time. Compared to the last generation of 4G networks, 5G is estimated to have the capability to run 100 times faster, up to 10 gigabits per second making quick downloads of information and streaming of large bandwidth content a breeze. Although 5G is in the initial stages of deployment, connectivity is already exponentially expanding. The industry trade group 5G Americas cited an Omdia report that counted more than 17.7 million 5G connections at the end of last year, including a 329 percent surge during the final three months of 2019. Omdia is also predicting 91 million 5G connections by the end of 2020. In 20121, the 5G roll out will continue on a larger scale.

Heat Scale Rating: Tabasco Pepper. 5G is evolving but still only has limited deployments. Many compliance and security issues are still being worked out. No doubt that in the next few years as 5G is implemented and upgraded, the Scoville pepper rating will become much hotter.

Quantum-computing:

Abstract science, hands holding atomic particle, nuclear energy imagery and network connection on ... [+] dark background.

Quantum Computing like AI & ML, has already arrived. IBM, Google, Intel, Honeywell, D-Wave, and several others are all in various stages of developing quantum computers. It is also a U.S. government priority. Recently, the Department of Energy announced the investment of over $1 billion for five quantum information science centers. Quantum computing works by harnessing the special properties of atoms and subatomic particles. Physicists are designing quantum computers that can calculate at amazing speeds and that would enable a whole new type of cryptography. It is predicted that quantum computers will be capable of solving certain types of problems up to 100 million times faster than conventional systems. As we get closer to a fully operational quantum computer, a new world of smart computing beckons.

Heat Scale Rating: Serrano Pepper. Quantum science is a new frontier and the physics can be complicated. Good progress is being made, especially on quantum encryption, but a fully operational quantum computer is still a few years away from fruition.

Big Data: Real-time Analytics and Predictive Analytics:

young asian woman uses digital tablet on virtual visual screen at night

Big Data: Real-time Analytics and Predictive Analytics flourishes in the world of software algorithms combined with evolving computing firmware and hardware. Data is the new gold but much more plentiful. According to Eric Schmidt , former CEO of Google, we now produce more data every other day than we did from the inception of early civilization until the year 2003 combined. It is estimated that the amount of data stored in the world's computer systems is doubling every two years, Therefore, the challenges of organizing, processing, managing, and analyzing data have become more important than ever. Emerging big data analytics tools are helping collapse information gaps and giving businesses and governments the tools they need to uncover trends, demographics, and preferences, and solutions to a wide variety of problem sets in many industries.

Heat Scale Rating: Thai Pepper. Solid heat but much room for more. Big data analytics ultimately will rely on the fusion of other technologies such as AL/MI and 5G. Fusion of emerging tech will be a growing factor in most future development and use cases. For a deeper dive, please see my FORBES article: The New Techno-Fusion: The Merging Of Technologies Impacting Our Future

Other Tech Trends:

Abstract pixelated digital world map silhouette in cold blue colors, with infographic icons, line ... [+] graph and year labels. Horizontal focused on the year 2021.

There are really too many emerging technologies to match with the heat peppers on the Scoville Heat Scale. I have only touched upon a few of them. Others include materials science (including self-assembling materials), enabling nanotechnologies, 3D Printing (photovoltaics and printed electronics), wearables (flexible electronics). The world of augmented and virtual reality is also exciting and paradigm changing. And, like 5G cloud computing is a vital network backbone for increased productivity and security moving and storing data and applications over the internet from remote servers. I would be remiss if I did not add cybersecurity as the all encompassing blanket for emerging technologies. Cybersecurity is a critical component for most tech, whether it be Health Technologies, IoT, 5G, AL/ML, Quantum, and Big Data that will allow for information assurance, privacy, and resilience. No matter how you view it 2021 will be a hot year for emerging tech and hopefully a safer, happier and more prosperous one for all.

A great idea changes the idea - today and tomorrow - with chalk on blackboard

About the author:

Chuck Brooks, President of Brooks Consulting International, is a globally recognized thought leader and evangelist for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies. LinkedIn named Chuck as one of The Top 5 Tech Experts to Follow on LinkedIn. Chuck was named as a 2020 top leader and influencer in Whos Who in Cybersecurity by Onalytica. He was named by Thompson Reuters as a Top 50 Global Influencer in Risk, Compliance, and by IFSEC as the #2 Global Cybersecurity Influencer. He was named by The Potomac Officers Club and Executive Mosaic and GovCon as at One of The Top Five Executives to Watch in GovCon Cybersecurity. Chuck is a two-time Presidential appointee who was an original member of the Department of Homeland Security. Chuck has been a featured speaker at numerous conferences and events including presenting before the G20 country meeting on energy cybersecurity.

Chuck is on the Faculty of Georgetown University where he teaches in the Graduate Applied Intelligence and Cybersecurity Programs. He is a contributor to FORBES, a Cybersecurity Expert for The Network at the Washington Post, Visiting Editor at Homeland Security Today, He has also been featured speaker, author on technology and cybersecurity topics by IBM, AT&T, Microsoft, General Dynamics, Xerox, Checkpoint, Cylance, and many others.

Chuck Brooks LinkedIn Profile:

Chuck Brooks on Twitter: @ChuckDBrooks

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A Scoville Heat Scale For Measuring The Progress Of Emerging Technologies In 2021 - Forbes

This is the moment Piers Morgan erupted in anger at a Conservative commentator on Good Morning Britain today.

Ann Coulter was on the ITV1 daytime TV favourite dialling in via video link for an interview in the wake of the US Election.

Joe Biden won the Election, it was confirmed on Saturday, after days of President Donald Trump alleging voter fraud.

"There may have been a little funny business with the ballots," Ann said.

Susanna hit back: "There is no evidence yet is there, though?"

Piers said: "The truth is this. There is no hard evidence of widespread fraud and the truth is there have been thousands of appeals at all levels into fraudulent voting.

"Only on three occasions have they found any substance.

"There is currently no substance on this claim."

Ann hit back: "I don't think it will change the result of the Election. Once it is baked into the cake, it is baked into the cake.

"But just looking at it, it is perfectly obvious. That is absolutely not true there is no substance.

"Just looking at it, it is obvious - 4am election night and there is four states Trump had won, in big urban areas where there are big Democrat political machines.

"I am not saying it will change the result of the election. I kind of like the result of the election.

"I do not think Kamala will be very hard to beat in four years."

GMB continues to air each weekday from 6am on ITV1.

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Piers Morgan erupts in fiery clash with GMB guest over US Election 'voter fraud' - Birmingham Live

With President Trumps chances of staying in the White House dwindling, the Republican Party potentially faces a vacuum as it works out who might be the GOPs new leader and standardbearer in 2024.

The departure of Trump from the scene opens the door to a number of potential candidates who have come up under the mercurial billionaire and who will vie to inherit the movement he created.

Never Trumpers lost, MAGA won, Ann Coulter an original Trump booster, who later soured on the president told The Post. We need Trumpism Without Trump.

Governor of Florida

Age 42

The governor of Florida went all in with Trump during his 2018 race and defied the polls to beat his Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum. Defying dire warnings from liberals, the Florida populist has also moved aggressively to reopen his state and has managed to avoid devastating new surges of COVID-19.

With a population larger than New York state and a lot older under DeSantis, Florida had fewer deaths without destroying the economy, said Coulter, a DeSantis fan. He prevented BLM protests from turning into destructive riots by vowing to bring felony charges for toppling statues or blocking traffic Hes articulate, but not prissy, like [Mitt] Romney.

Senator from Texas

Age 49

If there was a second-place finisher in the 2016 Republican primary, it was Ted Cruz. The Texas senator won the Iowa caucus and was the only Trump rival who even came within running distance of the billionaire. Though famously disliked and not endorsed by any of his GOP Senate colleagues at the time, Cruz has worked hard on his image and playing nice with his fellow senators.

Cruz has also developed a vibrant Twitter account, with 4 million followers and growing, where he regularly feeds red meat to the base and has been a champion of free speech online. Where Trump was often volatile and thin-skinned on the platform, Cruz is controlled and often indulges in self-deprecating jokes that he might be the Zodiac killer.

I think Ted Cruz is the likely front-runner and will be very difficult to beat in Iowa. He will be a formidable candidate, GOP strategist Luke Thompson told The Post.

Fox News opinion host

Age 51

The Fox News primetime host is the most watched cable news star on television right now. His program Tucker Carlson Tonight was supposedly regular viewing in the White House. In March, it was Carlson who went to Mar-a-Lago to give Trump a stern warning about COVID-19 just days before the president declared a state of emergency.

A telling harbinger of his future? The enemies of Trump now view Carlson with fear. In September 2019, the New York Times produced a whole column imagining a Carlson administration, with the host himself featured above the story as the literal terminator.

Come, take a stroll with me through my recurrent nightmare: Its the sweltering summer of 2029, and the man in charge is Tucker Carlson that is, President Tucker Carlson now in his triumphant second term, after having defeated the incumbent Joseph Recession Joe Biden back in 2024, wrote Farhad Manjoo.

Rick Wilson, a founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, told The Post that Carlson was among the most likely choices his former party could rally around in 2024. Carlson (so far) says hes not interested.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nation

Age 48

Many who have despised Trumps more isolationist tendencies have been drawn to the possible candidacy of Nikki Haley. Many are hopeful the former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations could rebuild trust in NATO and other US alliances around the world.

Shes a favorite of billionaire Republican mega-donor Ronald Lauder, who honored her last year with an award at the World Jewish Congress, where he serves as president.

You will not be able to rest because we expect even greater things from you, Lauder told Haley during the ceremony, where he also called her perhaps the most courageous woman in America today.

As a woman of color, electing Haley in 2024 would shatter many glass ceilings.

President of the United States

Age 74

Theres nothing stopping Trump himself from staging a political comeback. He wouldnt be much older than Biden now in 2024. He earned more votes than any Republican presidential candidate in history and few GOP aspirants would likely seek out a direct challenge a la 2016.

It wouldnt even be unprecedented, as President Grover Cleveland famously served two non-consecutive terms, from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897.

As many on the left have pointed out, the 2020 election was less a repudiation of Trump than a narrow loss for a man who proved just unpalatable enough for a critical sliver of his coalition.

Sean Spicer, a former Trump press secretary, told The Post his ex-boss would be an instant front-runner in a 2024 primary. He has a rock-solid base, I just dont think that there is anyone else who even comes close.

Teasing a potential run in 2024 would at the very least ensure Trump stays relevant and in the press for years to come.

If Trump himself passes on the opportunity, his two very political children Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump could also potentially pick up the mantle. Trump Jr. has long acted as an outside surrogate for his father online and in the press and connects strongly with his base. Ivanka, meanwhile, has years of administration experience under her belt as a White House adviser to her father.

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Here's who could be the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 - New York Post

Sukhavati, located in northern Germany, is a Buddhist center for the dying. Images courtesy of Oliver Peters

BERLIN (RNS) The man, a local baker, appeared onemorningat Sukhavati, a Buddhist center for the dying in the north German spa town of Bad Saarow.His friends said he never talked about being a Buddhist, Oliver Peters, head of spiritual care and volunteering at Sukhavati, said of the unexpected client, who died that evening. Only one friend knew his little secret, but his wish was to live and die the Buddhist way.

There is no single way of death in a faith that is the dominant religion across Southeast Asia and Japan, and rites vary greatly by region, culture, class and tradition. But Buddhism puts an emphasis on encountering death that is answering a call in the West for a more spiritual approach to palliative care, hospice service and chaplaincy programs.

In Buddhism, there are a lot of texts and sutras that emphasize death and dying, said Dr. Tuck Wai Chan, a physician in Singapore who has worked to bring Buddhist ideas about the end of life into hospitals. In certain traditions, the whole purpose of Buddhist practice is about death and dying. We know death well.

In the past decade and more, a Buddhist end-of-life movement has sprung up in Western Europe,Australia, New Zealand and theUnited States, testifying to a need for spiritual accompaniment at the end of life that is felt not only by an aging generation of Buddhist converts and immigrants but to those who only know that a secular, clinical approach is not enough.

Buddhanets Buddhist Hospice Directory lists about 20 such hospices in predominantly English-speaking countries, as well as Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. There are many more, such as Sukhavati, not listed on the site.

At Sukhavati, Peters said the center looks to the teaching of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom, particularly the bestselling Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche.

In practice, this means the regular chanting of mantras, guided meditations on death and instructions from Sogyal Rinpoches book on the passages and obstacles faced in what are known as thebardos the liminal states between death and rebirth.

Finally, the body is attended to for three days after death. Requiring special permission from the German health authorities, this time allows the deceased to be honored by family and friends, guided through thebardos, and for those left living to contemplate the separation of the body and mind at death.

A Buddha at Sukhavati. Image courtesy of Oliver Peters

A belief in Buddhism is not required, Peters said: We dont want to make people Buddhists. Everyone can come here Muslim, Christian, atheist.

We want to help the people to live and to die how they believe and want, he said. Its important for us, what someone believes. If someone is a Christian, we find a Christian priest. We try to be open.

To that end, Peters and his team have worked with a range of religious leaders to provide spiritual accompaniment for the dying. Recently, Peters sat by a Muslim mans bedside as an imam said prayers and recited verses from the Quran.

Peters tells of a client who came to spend his last day at Sukhavati despite never being interested in Buddhism. When Peters asked him why, he simply said, I am here that you pray for me.

People like this man, said Peters, dont really know where they are, but they like the environment or theyve heard something about the Dalai Lama or think that Buddhists are quiet and peaceful. Maybe they dont have a good history with Christianity and they think Buddhists are better with caring for the dying.

But in the rising popularity of places like Sukhavati is an implicit critique of conventional Western views of life and death. Frank Ostaseski, Buddhist teacher and co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco, said that, in a consumerist culture often enchanted by youth, Buddhist hospice care is offering an alternative whose unvarnished view of death also offers a new perspective on living.

Author Frank Ostaseski. Courtesy of Ken Chitwood

It also suggests that people are realizing they dont want to end their lives in the company of medical professionals, said Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

We dont want to just give this over to medicine anymore, he said. Death is much more than a medical event.

Medical professionals from a variety of backgrounds have echoed Ostaseskis point and are recommending that Buddhist principles be part of palliative and hospice care.

In a paper in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, co-authors Dr. Eva K. Masel, Dr. Sophie Schur and Dr. Herbert H. Watzke wrote, Buddhist teachings may lead to a more profound understanding of incurable diseases and offer patients the means by which to focus their minds while dealing with physical symptoms and ailments.

Courtesy of Ken Chitwood

Buddhist spirituality, said Chan, the Singaporean doctor, doesnt aim to alleviate fears about death by concentrating on an afterlife. Buddhists reflect on difficult things like death in order to deal with it, to make a better life in full view of the difficult facts.

One of the key principles of Buddhism is balance between compassion and wisdom, faith and facts. It is like a bird with two wings. The balance makes us able to fly, he said.

Nor does Chan advocate that medical professionals be involved in patients spirituality or use of Buddhism as a method of care. But he suggested that a basic literacy in Buddhism makes them able to provide compassion and comfort alongside medical insight.

Medical science isnt able to treat and cure everyone, he said, but they can provide comfort to everyone.

That comfort can transform caregivers as well as patients.

Courtesy of Ken Chitwood

Chenxing Han, author of Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists,spent a summer volunteering for the Brahmavihara AIDS Project in Cambodia, the country with the highest per capita concentration of Buddhists.

It was a humbling summer, she said. I did not speak Khmer and my undergraduate degree had not taught me how to be present with people who are severely ill and dying. Many times I wanted to run away, to flinch from the reality before me.

Her mentors at Brahmavihara helped her by modeling a spiritual care suffused with steadiness, love, faith and compassion, she said.

After her time in Cambodia, Han not only deepened her own Buddhist practice, but volunteered at the Pathways hospice in Californias Bay Area, then enrolled for formal training as a Buddhist chaplain at the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies in Redwood City, California.

As a chaplain, she said, my work was not the same as hospice, though many of the patients I met died.

For me, Buddhism isnt all gloom and doom, she said. I appreciate Buddhisms lessons for life and living as much as its insights on death and dying.

Through her experiences, Han said, she learned that the chaplains role is in many ways countercultural to the biomedical model of care.

In the chaplains view, death is not a failure, but a sacred transition that awaits us all.

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Dying 'the Buddhist way' gains in hospice centers in the West - Religion News Service

Its surprising how important Buddhist beliefs and practices have been to evolving world communities and their ability to live together in peace and mutual respect. I first learned about Buddhism during the 1960s VietNam war, when Buddhist monks led non-violent protests against American aggression. At its height, the US committed 500,000 American soldiers to the war. Every man in my college class had to face Vietnam one way or another.

Back home, at my Jesuit college, we studied Catholic philosophy and Jewish philosophers like Martin Buber. My non-Catholic roommate was allowed to take a World Religions course, which we dorm mates envied. At dinnertime, we plied her with questions about what she was learning.

As the world has become more connected by news, online exchanges and travel weve learned more about the histories of world religions. We can study how they are practiced today, including their collaborations with or opposition to other religions in their societies and in ours. Organized religions periodically gravitate towards, or are coopted by, secular political power and ambitions. Many warring factions and much political oppression in our own times are undergirded by religious conflict.

Im drawn to Buddhism. Its not easy to study it alone, living in a rural Christian community. We need fellowship, to share learning and insights and yes, disagreements, with others on spiritual paths. In the 1980s, I made a life-long friend, a writing teacher and Buddhist activist, who has taught me much of what I understand. Among other practices, she joined the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and participated in the late 1990s Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage, walking from Boston to the many sites of slavery urban slave markets, former plantations -- down the eastern seaboard, actions that helped prompt a reconsider of southern monuments that is still bearing fruit to this day.

Buddhism is practiced in many forms and countries. My explorations rely heavily on the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanhs work. Hanh, a young activist in the Vietnamese opposition to the 60s war, engaged with others in nonviolent protest. Eventually he settled in France, creating and leading his Plum Village, writing books, and establishing retreat and residential centers around the world including in New York State and in the San Diego area. Among his many books, my favorite is Being Peace. In it, he shares a poem he wrote, Call Me By My True Names, in which he imagines himself as a mayfly, a bird, a frog, a snake, a child in Uganda, a refuge girl in a boat, a member of the politburo, and a man dying in a forced labor camp. I weep every time I read this poem.

Compassion forms a central theme in Buddhism. Buddhists do not see the living world as a top-down hierarchy, with humans on top and some humans on top of others. All creatures, even the most noxious or dangerous, are respected. I try hard not to kill even the peskiest little mosquito. Im not all the way there yet. Its a powerful challenge to begin seeing oneself not as an individual who will be saved by being good and/or believing in religious dogma. Buddhism encourages us to see ourselves as part of a larger world, animal and mineral, a wonderful relief from the narcissism so rampant in our culture.

Buddhist practices vary by community. All prioritize meditation, alone or with others. Its not that easy. The idea is to focus on the breath and to empty the mind of all other thoughts. At Deer Park near San Diego, I once spent a day on a slow walking meditation, led by monks in silence. Forty of us formed a beautiful single-file procession up and down the dry hills. We ate in silence. It was remarkably restorative.

The version of Buddhism to which I am drawn embraces compassion as a central behavioral prescription. You can explore this in its many forms - stories, how-to accounts, Buddhist retreats - in your own meditative practice. My favorite go-to books, besides Being Peace, are His Holiness the Dalai Lamas The Heart of the Buddhas Path; theologian and religious historian (and former Catholic nun) Karen Armstrongs Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life; and Thich Nhat Hanhs wonderful reconstruction of Buddhas life: Old Path, White Clouds.

Prominent Buddhists have engaged in fellowship with Christians and vice-versa. For instance, in Christine Bochen, in her edited Thomas Merton: Essential Writings, recounts the Trappist monks week-long encounter with the Dali Lama in the Himalayas. They shared insights from each others traditions, focusing especially on meditation and on monastic life in their respective communities.

Its liberating to feel in communion with many people around the world by sitting quietly reading, meditating, and walking silently and mindfully. Especially at a time when our nation and our world are so torn and challenged. Id love to join a sangha, the Buddhist term for a group that convenes frequently to meditate, share ideas and challenges. I cherish opportunities to share thoughts and insights from other spiritual paths, respecting others beliefs as well as fears, discouragement, and criticism.

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Buddhist thought and practice: an exploration | Columnists - Herald Review