Copyright Ian Pearson, BT Futurologist
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Nanotechnology
April
2004
When you
enter the world of nanotechnology, youÕre moving into a world where features
can be made up of just a few atoms, with dimensions below 100 nanometres. (A nanometre is a millionth of a
millimetre).
By contrast,
most of our current manufacturing methods are very crude. Most processes move
atoms around in massive, clumsy groups. Nanotechnology allows us to move ÒdownÓ
a level. Much of today's nanotechnology amounts to clever bucket chemistry, but
eventually, maybe in 20 years, we will be able to assemble components routinely
atom by atom.. Even today, some components are so small that conventional
assembly techniques can't be used, and special gel-based techniques have to be
used.
At these
microscopic sizes, materials often have quite different properties and a whole
new range of phenomena exists to open new opportunities. Some amazing new
materials are possible, such as 1mm threads that can hold weights of 50 tonnes,
and equally impressive advances are promised in computing and biotechnology.
This technology is already being exploited to effect by the semiconductor,
biotechnology and materials industries to create new integrated circuits,
drugs, and even sunscreens.
Because of
high research investment, we can expect rapid convergence between today's
diverse technology fields, as problems in one field are increasingly addressed
by solutions developed in another. Specially designed molecules will be used in
computation, sensing or even in assembly. And weÕll eventually accept
nanotechnology products into our bodies to keep us healthy and connect us to
the machine world.
So, while
nanotechnology will create the tiniest structures of all, the results will be
very dramatic indeed.