# So I invented a quantum-based security system last week **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-invented-a-quantum-based-security-system-last-week/723168 "2015-06-22T17:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-invented-a-quantum-based-security-system-last-week/723168/1 "2015-06-22T17:58:57Z")
You know that quantum mechanics thing where you can think of a quantum particle as being in any number of states or positions, or even time (I think) until the moment you actually peek in on it and lock it into one set of conditions? Well, it occurred to me that security systems focus a whole lot on detection of a problem, and that public opinion of detectability is the foundation of deterrence. So I got to thinking, "Hey, I wonder if you cold have some kind of quantum exercise going on in the background of a given situation, and when someone intrudes the “observation” element gets triggered indicating potential compromise. Brilliant, right? Hey, I’m a concepts guy with a literature degree–I’ll let the physicists work out the details while I sip daiquiris by the…what’s that you say? [They’re already doing it?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_key_distribution) Well, shit. Back to stringing beads. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-invented-a-quantum-based-security-system-last-week/723168/2 "2015-06-22T20:35:39Z")
I hate living in the post-enlightenment era! Every great I’ve ever had, someone else has had first. And patented it and marketed it. Except for the urinal bib. I haven’t seen one of those yet. Or my toil-e-desk, so you can still work while heeding the call of nature. Some things, the world isn’t ready for yet. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-invented-a-quantum-based-security-system-last-week/723168/3 "2015-06-23T18:32:49Z")
I want a quantum combination lock. Every time I look at the combination, it changes to something else. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-invented-a-quantum-based-security-system-last-week/723168/4 "2015-06-23T21:11:46Z")
It’s neither locked nor unlocked until you try to open it.