It's safe to say that our understanding of what a computer can do will have to shift in light of quantum computing. Based on quantum-mechanical phenomena like superposition and entanglement, quantum computers may outpace conventional ones in certain kinds of tasks.

Quantum bits, also known as qubits, are one of the main features that set quantum computers apart from conventional ones. Classical bits can only hold one value (0 or 1), whereas qubits may be in a superposition of both states (0 and 1). Therefore, quantum computers can outperform conventional computers in some computation types.

Quantum computers, in addition to their speed, might potentially transform many other industries. They have potential in areas as diverse as chemistry and drug design simulations, economics and business modelling, AI and machine learning, and optimization issues.

However, several obstacles must be resolved before quantum computers can be extensively employed. The availability of quantum technology, the ability to scale, and the need for quantum error correction all figure prominently among them.

Despite these obstacles, many scientists expect that quantum computers will attain a "quantum advantage" soon, making the future of quantum computing an intriguing and rapidly-evolving area.

Quantum computers are a promising emerging technology because of their potential to upend existing markets and pave the way for entirely new ones.