The Science Fair

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I've been heavily designing a project for the regional science fair. The only problem is my family doesn't support me at all. They tell me it is a waste of time and to go do "normal stuff". My science fair project has to do with communicating with atoms with software. It is a very new concept to most. If I could pull off a credible result, I would win the regional science fair with no doubts. I just wish people would understand my ambition to do something different and of value. They think the different is the impossible. I see something most people don't with ideas, and I need to find a way to communicate these ideas.

It seems utterly hopeless at times since I would like to go to a thrift store to get electronics that would help me with these things. My dad won't take me though since he thinks the idea won't work, and he won't invest ten dollars to make it one step closer to reality.

So what do they think is so "normal" about the science fair? Seems to me it's a perfect fit for an Aspie with a special interest in physics.

Your idea sounds interesting, too - something to do with EPR pairs, perhaps? Whatever it is, I hope you can get together the cash for the electronic supplies. Your ideas deserve to be heard!

That seems soooo cool!

Maybe your dad will be more supportive if you tell him that some science-fair people win huge scholarships with their projects.

Also, they may just be tired of hearing about it. So talk about it less (except mention the scholarship thing. I think it's Science News I would read about 50,000 USD scholarships and automatic entrance into prestigious schools)

I had a brother-in-law tell me he was sick of me talking about books, so I try to remember that when I'm around him.

Is your teacher more supportive?

Are you in an area where you can access Craigslist or Freecycle, something like that? You could ask for the stuff you need and maybe get it for free from some sympathetic geek who doesn't need it anymore. That would then slightly diminish their huge stockpile of "someday I'll need that". They might even like to hear how it came out or have suggestions.

I also second the post about scholarships. Money is something anyone can understand!

I imagine that the hardest part of doing that project would be the programming, especially in Windows. If you are using windows, I'm curious about how you programmed the drivers and such for the communication interface.

I need not even ASK about the communication method since I thought of lots of different possibilities the moment I read your description of it, probably none of which are the same as your idea, which I'd like you to be proud of and not worry about anyone stealing it.

I wish you luck, and encourage you to know that it's possible to do incredible things with no budget, as I often do. If you need just a few extra bucks, can you redeem littered beverage containers for deposit and recycling in your area?

I don't understand your dad's reasoning. Even speaking from a strictly pragmatic point of view, you're interested in applied physics and engineering, right? Those are currently very lucrative fields, and even putting aside your passion for science he should at least see the practical advantage of scientific literacy. I assure you, it is very real.

Irregardless, I like your idea. I read Scientific American, New Scientist, and Nature and I have read a few interesting articles on quantum computing, I'll try to track down the articles (they usually are available online) when I get a chance and see if I can send you some cool links of relevance.

I don't understand my dad's reasoning either. I'm in the research stage at the moment. I'm trying to see what is a possibility for completing the tasks ahead of me effectively and efficiently. Quantum computers are very interesting. Based on my research so far, I think circuit switches are my best bet to connecting a simple computer to a compiler which transmits information to particles of atoms. This way, I can change an atoms behavior to do things outside their nature. Basically, these atoms will do anything my imagination can throw at them.

Thanks for all your advice everyone! =D

Once you get a working model of any sort, even the most basic, be sure to work with a patent attorney. Given your age, Legal Aid can probably point you in the right direction. I'm pretty sure there is someone who will work pro bono. Don't get cheated of any licensing profits!

WOW! If so, you might want to keep that project under your hat and submit it's most interesting secondary product for the science project. I have a few things that people can not understand because the intermediate step involves another mysterious and unique black box. Would you have to disclose the details of such a precondition even if it was not a part of the final project, but is original and also essential for constructing the project?

I don't think I have to disclose how I actually accomplished the project. Only if I can explain the end result, my hypothesis, and the steps to the end result is all the regional science fair cares about.

I have already thought about the software syntax I need to use. I think of the future a lot, and I know negative people will try to use it for destructive purposes. I'm designing the syntax to only accept certain instructions. Binary, the 1s and 0s, will seperate which instructions are acceptable. I'll assign destructive acts as 0s; offs. I will assign 1s as something which aren't 0s; ons.

That is a great Logic-system because unwanted actions probably never can be ON.