The Ethics of Nanotechnology Essay -- Nanotechnology Science Research

The Ethics of Nanotechnology mental institutionImagine a world in which cars can be assembled molecule-by-molecule, scraps can be disassembled and turned into beef steaks, and people can be operated on and healed by cell-sized robots. Sound like science metaphor? Well, with current semiconductor chip manufacturing encroaching upon the nanometer scale and the index to move individual atoms at the IBM Almaden laboratory, we argon fast approaching the technological ability to fabricate productive machines and devices that can manipulate things at the atomic level. From this ability we will be able to develop molecular-sized computers and robots, which would give us unprecedented control over matter and the ability to shape the material world as we see fit. Some may see it as pure fantasy, but others speculate that it is an inevitability that will be the first gear of the next 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 field relevant 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 mere step away from the molecular machines envisioned by nanotechnology. MEMS are already being used in automobile airbag systems as accelerometers to honor 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(a) Nanotechnology Guidelines) and follow them, then we should be able to develop nanotechnology safely charm still reaping its promised benefits.Refere ncesDrexler, 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 March 2002.http//www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.htmlThe Foresight Institute.03 March 2002.http//www.foresight.org/Institute for Molecular Manufacturing.03 March 2002.IMM.org interior(a) Nanotechnology Initiative.03 March 2002.http//www.nano.gov/Thibodeau, Patrick. Nanotech, IT research given boost in Bush cipher.03 March 2002. (April 11, 2001)CNN.comDefinitions.03 March 2002.Whatis.com