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Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Unit for Language and Communication

Draft number: Final Version

Word count: 1094

Developments of Nanotechnology

Vivian van der Burgt

Course number: DS1312

Course name: Technical English B1

Teacher: Patricia Spencer

Date of Submission: 25 April 2011

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Abstract

With the new developments of nanotechnology nowadays, we do not know all the

consequences. That is why nanotechnology is often to be considered as something

dangerous and unknown. It can bring us a lot of opportunities for new

technological developments, but it also can be dangerous.

This report describes what nanotechnology is, some future concepts, and the

disadvantages of the new developments. It explains why nanotechnology is

something that needs to be reconsidered.

The report concludes that privacy issues and health concerns are the main issues

among nanotechnology. Furthermore, social scientists and other people are kept

outside the research, which will lead to misunderstandings. We are blinded by new

technology developments, and not thinking about the consequences.

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Table of Contents

Page

Abstract 2

Table of Contents 3

Introduction 4

1.1. Nanotechnology in our Next Nature 4

Main body 5

2.1. What is nanotechnology 5

2.2. Debate-provoking nanotech products 6

2.2.1. Twitter implant 6

2.2.2. Nano-lift – physical photoshop 6

2.2.3. Programmable wine 7

2.3. Debate among nanotechnology 7

2.3.1. Manipulation 7

2.3.2. Privacy issues 7

2.3.3. Next Nature 8

Conclusion 9

References 10

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Introduction

1.1. Nanotechnology in our Next Nature

We live in a world that humankind has made for us, and where technology is

number one. All the products, buildings, everything around us, are made by

humans, with the current technology. Engineers are coming up with even smaller

technology products than before. The thing is, we don’t even know what old nature

looks like; how the world looks like without human intervention. Human kind has

developed a new form of nature: Next Nature. This name is given by different

designers, to make the problem of our technology culture and nature clear. [4]

The development of nanotechnology is part of our next nature. Scientists are

coming up with new opportunities in medicine, electronics and materials. It will

realize their wildest dreams, but what are the consequences of these

developments? There is much debate around the developments of nanotechnology:

what kinds of environmental impacts will it have, and what about the privacy of

people and society? People are a bit afraid of the new developments among

nanotechnology, because it is unknown to them and very abstract. Maybe

nanotechnology can bring us a lot of opportunities and advantages, but it also can

be dangerous.

This brings us to the next statement: We need to reconsider the developments

among nanotechnology.

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2.1. What is nanotechnology?

We start with a definition of nanotechnology from a leading group in

nanotechnology:”Nanotechnology is the construction and use of functional

structures designed from atomic or molecular scale with at least one characteristic

dimension measured in nanometers”. [5] So what they mean when they speak of

nanotechnology? They manipulate the molecule structure of any atom to get unique

properties, which you can implement in any material or device. This is done on a

very small scale, the size of one billionth of a meter. Only in this small scale can the

molecules exhibit improved and different properties, which we can use in different

applications.

A molecule is the smallest part of a molecular substance, such as water or oxygen.

A water molecule consists out of two water molecules (H2) and one oxygen

molecule (O). Figure 1 [9] shows a water molecule. Almost everything around us

consists of molecules.

Figure 1: Water molecule. [9]

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2.2. Debate-provoking nanotech products

2.2.1. The twitter implant

Fifteen years from now, in 2016, a twitter implant

(figure 2) [6] will be available which will register

everything you do: your location, your favorite

music, your mood and even what happens inside

your body. You connect the implant to your iPhone

and you can decide what you want to share with the

world. Everyone knows Twitter, and from the time it

was released in 2008, everybody is sharing their

tweets and spending hours behind the screen to

follow people. Now it will become much easier! [6]

Figure 2: Twitter implant [6]

2.2.2. Nano-lift – Physical Photoshop

Plastic surgery is an emerging trend. A lot of people

want to change their face or body to look even better.

In the future this will be even easier with the nano-lift

(figure 3) [7]. Your face has to be injected with a grid

of tiny magnetic nano particles. With the nano-lift,

which is a magnetic stick, you can adjust these

particles at home and change the shape of your face

physically. [7]

Figure 3: nano-lift [7]

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2.2.3. Programmable wine

You have a lot of different wines with different

flavors. With the speculative nanotech wine you can

have all these wines in one bottle (figure 4) [8]. This

wine is filled with nano sized flavor capsules, which

will open by influence of microwaves. The time and

the wattage will open different capsules, which will

create different wines. [8]

Figure 4: Programmable wine [8]

2.3. Debate among nanotechnology

2.3.1. Manipulation

Manipulation is still a dangerous thing because we do not know exactly what the

consequences of it may be. Manipulation is changing the structure of the molecule

to get better, different properties. With manipulating the molecule structure, you

create nanoparticles which can be chemically reactive and can harm biological

pathways. Normal harmless substances such as titanium dioxide, can become

reactive when used and manipulated on the nano scale structure. These substances

can burn bacteria at the nano level. If such nanoparticles end up in the lungs of

people or animals, it can damage your health and pass on to other humans or

animals. [1]

2.3.2. Privacy issues

One of the most privacy issue products of nanotechnology, are the implants of

microchips into human bodies. These chips can be of a great benefit to control drug

usage of people or controlling hospital patients. But these chips can be expanded

and sold for other purposes, for example watching your enemy or your cheating

husband. The twitter implant is slightly different, because you can somehow control

your information.

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Another issue is that a lot of researchers disagree among each other how far

nanotechnology can go. Some are only thinking about revolutionary concepts, while

others see the ethical issues. Also a lot of research and development of

nanotechnology is kept confidential. A lot of social scientists, who can better

evaluate the consequences of new technology on society, are kept outside the new

developments. [1]

2.3.3. Next Nature

Nanotechnology is part of our next nature. It is very unclear what it means and

what you can do with nanotechnology. People are a bit afraid of the nanotechnology

developments because it is unfamiliar to them and abstract. This is also the case

with other technological products. Technology is not associated with calm and

peaceful, so this has to change. This next nature, this technology world where we

are living in now, will make people more afraid. To change this we need to get

people more familiar with the new technological developments.

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Conclusion

Nanotechnology has to deal with the manipulation of the structure of molecules, in

order to get unique properties, which you can implement in any material or

product. Examples of nanotech products are the twitter implant, the nano-lift,

where you can physically photoshop your skin, and the programmable wine.

Nanotechnology can bring a lot of opportunities, but it also can be dangerous.

The main issue concerning nanotechnology is the privacy issues. Secondly, social

scientists and other people are kept outside the research and developments of

nanotechnology. This will lead to misunderstandings and an unknown field for

society. Thirdly, while manipulating we create new substances that can be harmful

for our health.

The main conclusion is that we are blinded by technology and not thinking about

the consequences and the laws of old nature. So the developments among

nanotechnology need to be reconsidered in the future.

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References

[1] Eva Gutierrez. For the Electronic Privacy Information Center: “Privacy

Implications of Nanotechnology”, 2004. <http://epic.org/privacy/nano/>

(7 Feb. 2011)

[2] http://www.nextnature.net/events/nano-supermarket/ (13 Feb. 2011)

[3] Mensvoort van, K. Information Decoration: “Our environment as an information

carrier”. Published in Gerritzen, 2007.

<http://www.nextnature.net/2007/10/information-decoration/> (13 Feb. 2011)

[4] Sterling, B. “Next Nature intro”, 2010.

<http://www.nextnature.net/2010/09/next-nature-intro-by

bruce-sterling/ > (13 Feb. 2011)

[5] Professor Zhong L. Wang’s Nano research group.

<http://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/zlwang/research/nano.html> (6 Mar. 2011)

[6] http://www.nextnature.net/2010/03/nano-product-the-twitter-implant/ (13

Feb. 2011)

[7] http://www.nextnature.net/events/nano-supermarket/ (13 Feb. 2011)

[8] http://www.nextnature.net/events/nano-supermarket/ (13 Feb. 2011)

[9]http://16kze.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/file/view/water-

molecule.jpg/187937053/water-molecule.jpg (6 Mar. 2011)