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In Nanoconvergence, William Sims Bainbridge tours the future of science and technology in plain, nontechnical English. Bainbridge draws on an extraordinary breadth and depth of knowledge, based on his unique role at the epicenter of the nanoconvergence revolution. He successfully integrates insights from far-reaching scientific fields into a compelling human story—offering powerful insights you can use to plan your career, seek new investment opportunities, or simply understand what's coming next.
Preface xiii
About the Author xix
The Meaning of "Nano" 1
Nanotechnology and Scientific Progress 4
Technological Convergence 9
Application Areas 15
Radical Transformations 17
The Plan of This Book 19
References 22
Imagination and Impossibility 25
Birds Can't Fly to the Moon 26
Cold Facts 28
Science Fiction 29
Drexler's Vision 35
Alchemy at the Nanoscale 42
Nanopanic 44
Conclusion 46
References 47
Moore's Law 51
Sensors 58
Quantum Computing 60
The Information Technology Research Initiative 63
Grand Information Technology Challenges 68
Conclusion 74
References 76
Nanotechnology from the Perspective of Biology 81
Nano-Bio Convergence 83
The Problem of Cancer 87
Paths to Nano-Bio Innovation 89
Agriculture and the Environment 92
Evolutionary Methods: Computing and Culture 95
Improving Human Performance 103
Conclusion 106
References 107
The Two Faces of Cognitive Science 113
Cognitive Convergence 117
The Prehistory of Cognitive Technologies 124
Neurotechnology 128
The Communicator 133
Conclusion 136
References 137
Creating Convergers 143
Eight Principles for Convergence 149
Conservation 150
Indecision 151
Configuration 152
Interaction 153
Variation 153
Evolution 154
Information 155
Cognition 155
Ethical Principles 156
Social Relations 159
Behavioral Social Science 163
Conclusion 168
References 169
Critics of Convergence 175
Looking Forward 180
Family and Reproduction 181
Culture and Personality 183
Societal Institutions 186
Science, Health, and Environment 188
How Will the World Be Governed? 189
A New Science of Services 195
Conclusion 200
References 201
The Giant Leap 207
The Realities of Interplanetary Travel 211
The Solar System 215
Personality Transfer 222
What Is to Be Done? 228
Conclusion 231
References 232