Joe Miller - Quantum Country interview - 2019-08-28

• found spaced repetition on LessWrong but hadn’t used it
• works at AT&T on applied research
  • was having a debate with colleagues about QC, decided to learn about it
• read pop sci explanations about QC, eventually found us via Google
• first impression with cards:
  • was wondering about what would happen in the future, felt uncertain
  • was surprised by the email
  • didn’t understand from the prose that this would happen next
  • first received it five days later
  • didn’t know how long it would take
  • didn’t want to open it and not be able to commit to finish it
• when he doesn’t care about memorizing a question, he just clicks “remembered”
• first session felt quick to him
• was hoping for more computational questions; wanted exercises
• how did 5 days feel?
  • “I was just kinda trusting the system.”
• the prospect of 2 weeks?
  • I don’t think I’m gonna forget them
  • 2 weeks seems fine for questions I got right twice. 3 weeks could even be fine.
• had trouble with |00> again
  • wasn’t sure how X (rank 2) interacts with a 2-qubit system
• double-check: what does measurement basis mean in a multi-quit system
• search essay felt like a lot of stack pushing