Nanotechnology in context

A nanometre is a billionth of a metre – that is, about 1/80000 of the diameter of a human hair or 10 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. So what are the advantages of this technology?

Ottilia Saxi, CEO of The Institute of Nanotechnology, hit the nail on the head when he said: "It will fundamentally change the things we make and the way we make them." Car airbags provide a good example of how the cost of technology is decreasing, while functionality is increasing. In the US, airbags were once a major target for thieves because the accelerometer trigger they contain were so expensive. They are now becoming too cheap to bother stealing as an accelerometer on a single chip can be built for the equivalent of about €2.50 and is not only cheaper, but also "smarter" and more reliable. Future systems will incorporate sensors manufactured using nanotechniques that are capable of identifying not only the presence of a passenger, but their weight and size as well, making adjustments accordingly. Global positioning system (GPS) sensors are being produced at increasingly lower costs but with enhanced performance. Systems once costing tens of thousands of pounds can now be bought in a handheld package for under €600. Nanotechnology means that in the near future, integrated sensor/GPS modules will be small and inexpensive enough to integrate into packages to track the location and treatment of goods. Laser technology is also rapidly changing gyroscopic technology, as ring laser gyros (RLGs) displace traditional spinning-mass systems in aircraft, delivering hugely increased performance and reliability at a lower cost. In the long run, it is likely that advanced MEMS accelerometer arrays will in turn displace RLG technology. The impact of sensors will not stop at merely sensing. Sensing devices will also be required to respond to what they "see". The sensor era will then become a sensor/effector era, where devices will not only observe the world around them, but will also be able to react to, manipulate and change what they "see". The applications of this technology can go on and on – in fact, they are limitless. Experts predict a world in which microscopic machines will literally travel within us, not only recording and feeding back information but also repairing damage. The prospects and opportunities for nanotechnology are far reaching and raise serious questions on both moral and ethical grounds that go beyond the pure research and science. In the words of a certain car manufacturer the question "What if?" has no limitations.