But increasingly, as we edge towards the limits of semiconductor technology, we reach a new regime where the laws of quantum physics become dominant. Strange new phenomena, like entanglement and quantum coherence, become available as new resources. Despite its strangeness, however, an understanding of quantum mechanics has been absolutely central to today's high-tech, wired world. Without it, computers, television, satellites, telephones and most other modern gadgets would probably not be as sophisticated and plentiful as they are now. IBM researchers and other scientists around the world have been making impressive progress in demonstrating the first elementary aspects of quantum information.
Hopes are high that quantum cryptography can be commercialized.
The prospects for developing any practical quantum computers or teleporters are unknown at this time. Isolating and controlling quantum states to the degree necessary would be substantial achievements. But when dealing with quantum mechanics, it's never a sure bet to dismiss the improbable.