What nanotech research would you like to know about?
Posted on 26th Aug 2009 at 08:14 by Mark Mackay with 22 comments
Most tech enthusiasts will be familiar with the word nanotechnology but for those that aren’t, here’s an outline, because I'm sure you'll find it a fascinating topic. The term ‘nano’ it means ‘tiny’ or ‘minute’ - a nanometre is one millionth of a mm.
Nanotechnology generally refers to any technology that is on a scale of nanometres and often involves manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale. I'm going to be writing a feature on it over the next month or so, and I'm after your suggestions of specific projects to look at.
Research has been going on in this area for many years, but there have been a few very exciting developments recently - in fact we might just be on the brink of a nanotechnology revolution. This promises hefty ramifications for computing - think super-fast self-assembling processors for starters. It seems like a great time to write about the topic.
Nanotech has the potential to get so small, we could make robots apply medicine to us on a cellular level
Despite concerning tiny inventions, nanotech is a field of epic proportions. Websites such as Nanowerk report on the onslaught of nanotech advancements much in the same way bit-tech does hardware and game advancements, and big companies such as IBM aren't shy about announcing their achievements, but I'm just as interested in spotlighting smaller, less well known projects.
I've got a good few weeks to research the piece to do my own reading, and I've been following the field for the last few months, but if you’ve seen any cool nanotech stuff on your internet browsing eTravels that you thought looked especially awesome, let me know. Ideally it will be computer-related and the more fantastical, the better.
Nanotechnology generally refers to any technology that is on a scale of nanometres and often involves manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale. I'm going to be writing a feature on it over the next month or so, and I'm after your suggestions of specific projects to look at.
Research has been going on in this area for many years, but there have been a few very exciting developments recently - in fact we might just be on the brink of a nanotechnology revolution. This promises hefty ramifications for computing - think super-fast self-assembling processors for starters. It seems like a great time to write about the topic.
Nanotech has the potential to get so small, we could make robots apply medicine to us on a cellular level
Despite concerning tiny inventions, nanotech is a field of epic proportions. Websites such as Nanowerk report on the onslaught of nanotech advancements much in the same way bit-tech does hardware and game advancements, and big companies such as IBM aren't shy about announcing their achievements, but I'm just as interested in spotlighting smaller, less well known projects.
I've got a good few weeks to research the piece to do my own reading, and I've been following the field for the last few months, but if you’ve seen any cool nanotech stuff on your internet browsing eTravels that you thought looked especially awesome, let me know. Ideally it will be computer-related and the more fantastical, the better.
22 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyTwo different attempts at what seems to be the same goal:
Via Nanowerk* and NS
And/or a look at DNA (in) computing...
*Bookmarked.
I'll explain later.
What's to explain?
Be careful, though - a lot of companies throw "nano" around just for its marketing value.
I'll be looking forward to the features! :D
Thanks for the reply, Stuey. Here's where I got my definition. The website's usually very trustworthy in my experience.
From www.dictionary.com
nano-
a combining form with the meaning very small, minute, used in the formation of compound words (nanoplankton); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense one billionth (10-9): nanomole; nanosecond.
Was there anything in particular in the world of nanotech you would be interested in reading about?
on a serious note: self assembling processors really did hit the 'interesting' button.
Another application would be tools that can be reconfigured easily went new techniques are developed. or a REALLY cool multitool.
http://hackaday.com/2009/07/07/tiny-medical-bot/
This thing just sounds creepy...
Well enough advanced in research that there's plenty of facts to relate without having to resort to an artist's impression of a space elevator, and many uses from very high (or very low) thermal conductivity materials, use in integrated circuits, and of course, an artist's impression of a space elevator!
P
+1. I'm more interested in how it's going to affect medicinal practice, and when we'll all look like we came out of Deus Ex (and I don't mean blocky).
Not sure if anyone has seen this before. It's concept phone from nokia. They developed the concept in conjunction with the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre.
The site has a fairly long video explaining all the features. Very cool stuff if it actually gets made at some point. iPhone killer for sure ;-)
Also, for creating a jack port into my skull for getting away from these pesky keyboards and mice. http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=2177.php
Of course, then I will need some memory for links, and notes and what-have-you, http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2006/05/10/water_will_help_improve_our_memory/1.
Then throw in some LeD's that grow on the end of some nano tubes that will go through my optic nerves to allow my eyes to glow in the dark, red please, don't want to ruin my night vision too much. And sure throw in some camera's so I can take pics of what I'm really looking at. And some IR LeD's so my camera's can see in the dark.
Oh, and enough self building goo to build a copy of Jessica.
Sorry about that - I didn't see that this thread had been updated.
I don't like dictionary.com at all - their advertisements are too "in your face," but I previously thought them to be relatively trustworrty as well. Still, I prefer Merriam-Webster (m-w.com) and Oxford (oed.com).
Something nanoscaled is very small and minute, but it's not defined as such. For some reason, "micro" is officially defined as the 10^-6 prefix, and to mean something small and minute. I wonder if the same will happen to nano now that it's more commonly used, but it would not be a good move. So many companies are tying to peddle their products as having nano-this, nano-that since nano is a buzzword that makes for great ad copy.
Anyhow, I'm interested in reading [almost] anything about nanotech. Since this is a computer tech forum, maybe you could start off with how CPU dies are fabricated?
Also, everyone loves Carbon Nanotubes.
We've already got one in for the next 'On Our Desks' gadgets round up so it probably wont make it into the feature...
Ooh, sounds interesting! Thanks for the heads up.