The Ethics of Nanotechnology Essay -- Nanotechnology Science Research

The Ethics of NanotechnologyIntroduction sound off a existence in which cars bathroom be assembled molecule-by-molecule, garbage can be disassembled and turned into beef steaks, and people can be operated on and healed by cell-sized robots. Sound like science fiction? Well, with menstruum semiconducting material chip manufacturing encroaching upon the nanometer scale and the index to spark individual atoms at the IBM Almaden laboratory, we are fast approaching the technological might to fabricate productive machines and devices that can manipulate things at the atomic level. From this ability we leave behind be able to develop molecular-sized computers and robots, which would give us unusual control over matter and the ability to shape the physical world as we see fit. Some may see it as subtle fantasy, but others speculate that it is an inevitability that will be the beginning of the watching(a) technological revolution. Laboratories, such as the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF), have already been researching nanofabrication techniques with applications in fiber optics, biotechnology, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and wide variety of other research fields applicable to todays technology. MEMS, tiny mechanical devices such as sensors, valves, gears, mirrors, and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips, are particularly interesting because they are but a classic step away from the molecular machines envisioned by nanotechnology. MEMS are already being used in automobile airbag systems as accelerometers to detect collisions and will become an increasing part of our everyday technology.In 1986, a researcher from MIT named K. Eric Drexler already foresaw the advent of molecular machines and published a book, Engines of Creation, in ... ...searchers in this field put together an ethical set of guidelines (e.g. Molecular Nanotechnology Guidelines) and follow them, then we should be able to develop nanotechnology safely while subdued reaping its promised benefits.ReferencesDrexler, K. Eric Engines of Creation.New York Anchor Books, 1986.Drexler, K. Eric Unbounding the Future.New York Quill, 1991.Feynman, Richard P. Theres Plenty of Room at the Bottom.03 adjoin 2002.http//www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.htmlThe Foresight Institute.03 frame in 2002.http//www.foresight.org/Institute for Molecular Manufacturing.03 shew 2002.IMM.orgNational Nanotechnology Initiative.03 March 2002.http//www.nano.gov/Thibodeau, Patrick. Nanotech, IT research given boost in Bush budget.03 March 2002. (April 11, 2001)CNN.comDefinitions.03 March 2002.Whatis.com