After seeing princepawn's comment, I checked out Quantum::Entanglement.

He has a "conform" option that, instead of returning a random result based on the probability, will try to make the outcome "true". That got me thinking... This turns into a general constraint-based problem-solving system that blows away Prolog. The ideas behind superpositions is similar to that of Fuzzy Logic.

So... what about a system that worked in a similar way, with superpositions based not on quantum wave collapse functions, but on the simpler rules of fuzzy logic? A value has a certain probability of being "big", a different probability of being "medium", etc. all held in superposition. Collapse of the final answer is the de-fuzzy function. Or, apply a constraint and all the entangled variables take on coherent states to make the problem work out. Applying constraints to non-entangled values is simpler, and will suppress or enhance certain superpositions.

It seems that the coherence between variables is a powerful programming model. You tease at it with spreadsheets and Metafont. Instead of an algorithm that runs once, you set up a continued relationship between values such that changing one has an effect on others.

Hmm.

—John

In reply to Meditation on Quantum::Entanglement by John M. Dlugosz

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