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Photons make good carriers of quantum information in particular where propagation is involved -- for instance the polarization degree of freedom can be used to simulate the state of the qubits involved in the operations. Linear optical elements such as beam splitters, phase shifters, etc. can then be used to manipulate the photons and thus simulate the quantum operations performed on the qubits. Atoms and other material systems such as nano-electro mechanical oscillators make good carriers of quantum information in particular for storage - electronic or mechanical degrees of freedom may represent qubits and can be manipulated using external fields such as lasers. An interface between photons and atoms may be provided by cavities made up of highly reflecting mirrors to enhance and direct the interaction of atomic qubits with photonic qubits to interconvert stationary and flying qubits. We study various possible ways of utilizing photonic and material systems as qubits, in particular focusing on issues to do with correcting the sorts of errors that these systems are particularly susceptible to - such as absorption or phase error and devise schemes to overcome these limitations.