Page 130 - Nanotechnology an introduction

Chapter Contents

12.1 Technical Revolutions 229
12.2 Scientific Impacts 232
12.3 Technical Impacts 232
12.3.1 Information Technologies 232
12.3.2 Energy 233
12.3.3 Health 235
12.4 Commercial and Economic Impacts 239
12.5 Environmental Impacts 241
12.6 Social Implications 242
12.6.1 Regulation 242
12.6.2 Military Implications 242
12.6.3 Technical Literacy 243
12.6.4 Education 243
12.7 Impacts on Individual Psychology 244
12.8 Some Ethical Issues 244
12.9 Summary 245
12.10 Further Reading 246
The most important technical impacts of nanotechnology currently seem to be on information processing, energy and health. Ultimately impacts will, however, be on a broader plane, because nanotechnology epitomizes a deeper, more
rational view of the universe, including all practical aspects of our environment. Nevertheless, it is far from certain that humanity will take up the challenge of the new opportunities, especially the possibility for everyone to participate in
shaping his or her own environment, as much a producer as a consumer. For this reason, those that hold this vision, and see such a development as the only one offering a way forward for humanity, have a special responsibility to promote
the vision and its realization.
Keywords: information technology, energy, health, revolutions, commercial impact, economic impact, environmental impact, technical literacy, social impact, ethics
One might well wonder, after having been confronted by all this marvellous technology and potential technology, whether it has the potential for
positively benefiting civilization in contributing to the elevation of society. This final chapter examines the actual and potential impacts of
nanotechnology. These introductory paragraphs provide an overview; scientific and technical revolutions are considered, in order to decide whether
nanotechnology merits being considered as one; more detailed coverage of individual areas is then given: scientific, technical, economic,
environmental, social and finally ethical aspects. There is of course overlap between these areas and the division between them is to be somewhat
arbitrary. Technical impacts, in other words applications, are covered in the greatest detail, focusing attention on the “big three” areas—computing,
energy and health. Here too there is overlap between them.
It is necessary to consider both what might be called “soft” and “hard” aspects of nanotechnology, in the sense of unexceptionable and
controversial, respectively. The former corresponds to the near-term—in some cases what is already realized; the latter corresponds to the long-
term; that is, productive nanosystems, as embodied by the personal nanofactory. As with any long-term extrapolation of technology, there is a
considerable element of speculation concerning the latter, especially regarding timescales.

Applications can be considered as both direct and indirect. An example of the former is a nanoparticle that functions as a medicinal drug and can
be injected as such directly into the bloodstream of a patient. An example of the latter is an information processor (computer) based on very large-
scale integrated chips with individual circuit components in the nanoscale (but the overall size of the device and that of many essential peripheral
components is bigger than the nanoscale); the direct application of the nanotechnology is to the realization of the integrated circuit; the many
applications of the circuitry count as indirect applications of nanotechnology.

Can nanotechnology help to solve the great and pressing problems of contemporary humanity? Although, if ranked, there might be some debate
about the order, most people would include rapid climate change, environmental degradation, energy and other resource depletion, unfavorable
demographic trends, insufficiency of food, and nuclear proliferation among the biggest challenges. Can these problems be solved if
nanotechnology is the continuation of technological progress, which might ultimately be revolutionary if the quantitative change becomes big
enough to rank as qualitative? For example, atom-by-atom assembly of artifacts implies, conversely, that discarded ones can be disassembled
according to a similar principle, hence the problem of waste (and concomitant environmental pollution) vanishes. More advanced understanding at
the nanoscale should finally allow us to create artificial energy-harvesting systems, mimicking photosynthesis, hence the potential penury of energy
disappears. If the manufacture of almost everything becomes localized, the transport of goods (a major contributor to energy consumption and
environmental degradation) should dwindle to practically nothing. Localized energy production would have a similar effect, eliminating the need for
a vast distribution infrastructure. However, the achievement of this ultimate state of affairs depends on the advent of the personal nanofactory, or
something resembling it, which is by no means inevitable. Perhaps the miniature medical robot (often called the nanobot) is somewhat closer to
realization—in essence it is simply a more advanced version of the responsive drug delivery nanoparticles that are already being deployed. Would
indefatigably circulating nanobots inside our bodies enable our lives to be extended almost indefinitely? And if so, what would be the
consequences?

Reports published during the last few years are typically euphoric about nanotechnology and all the benefits it will bring. Many of the examples are,
however, of a relatively trivial nature and do not seem to represent sufficient breakthrough novelty to constitute a revolution. Thus, we already have
nanostructured textiles that resist staining, self-cleaning glass incorporating nanoparticulate photocatalysts capable of decomposing dirt (Figure
7.24); nanoparticle-based sun creams that effectively filter out ultraviolet light without scattering it and are therefore transparent; even lighter and
stronger tennis rackets made with carbon fiber or even carbon nanotube composites; and so forth. None of these developments can be said to be
truly revolutionary in terms of impact on civilization. Indeed, they are rather low-profile; one might not even notice them if they were not pointed out. In