RE: nanotech?

The earliest application of nanotechnology will be in the semiconductor
space. See the following on how the company I work for is applying the
technology:

http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~yuenck/cs3220/nano.htm

It is not as flashy as the other applications below nor is it as dangerous.
Normal semiconductors have all sorts of really toxic substances in them. But
they are all literally "under glass". The same would be true about nanotube
memories. The power of nanotechnology is applying biological-style methods
for producing regular structures. The emphasis is on the "style" part. None
of what is being considered comes anywhere near being "alive". Another
application of this type of approach is in organic light-emitting diode
(OLED) assemblies. You can "grow" these on just about any substance,
allowing for flexible paper-like displays. These make for pretty boring
thrillers, though. That is, unless you find a zero-delay digital camera
thrilling.

  _____

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Randy Isaac
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 7:30 PM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: nanotech?

George,

    To be more specific in my response, here are some links that may be of
use:

1) Nanoeffects: Potential Effects of Nanotechnology on Society and Nature:
http://www.mapcruzin.com/nanoeffect/

2) Bill Joy's original article published in Wired, April 2000:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy_pr.html

    (I couldn't find documentation of where he backed off his comments, so
I'll have to retract that statement. Guess it was verbal scuttlebut)

3) Detailed discussion and many references/links that build on Bill's
comments: http://www.tecsoc.org/innovate/focusbilljoy.htm

4) Prince Charles(!): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3883749.stm

Personally, I think much of the above is best for fodder for a Michael
Crichton thriller. On the other hand, I agree that we must be vigilant and
alert to potential effects. We've seen too vividly the high costs of
pushing technology ahead of itself.

Randy

----- Original Message -----

From: George Murphy <mailto:gmurphy@raex.com>

To: ASA list <mailto:asa@calvin.edu>

Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 7:35 AM

Subject: nanotech?

I've had a request for resources on possible theological & ethical issues
connected with nanotechnology. Any suggestions?

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Mon Mar 28 22:03:03 2005