Managing Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno Innovations: Converging Technologies in Society - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1402041063 ISBN 13: 9781402041068

Publisher: Springer, 2006

Synopsis

With the convergence of Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science (NBIC) fields promising to change our competitive, operational, and employment landscape in fundamental ways, we find ourselves on the brink of a new technological and science-driven business revolution. The already emerging reality of convergence is to be found in genomics, robotics, bio-information and artificial intelligence applications, such as: • Self-assembled, self-cleaning and self-healing manufactured materials and textiles, and much stronger, lighter and more customizable structural materials, • Miniature sensors allowing unobtrusive real-time health monitoring and dramatically improved diagnosis; with greatly enhanced real time information to vehicles and drivers on the way, • New generations of supercomputers and efficient energy generators based on biological processes, • Greatly enhanced drug delivery from unprecedented control over fundamental structural properties and biocompatibility of materials. These advances are here already, or in development. And Japan, other Asian nations and Western European countries are investing heavily and moving aggressively to develop and apply NBIC technologies. Notwithstanding the passage of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, significant further funding and action by both government and private industry will be critical to maintaining US scientific and industry leadership.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Mihail C. Roco is a senior advisor on nanotechnology for the National Science Foundation, as well as chair on the Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology of the U.S. National Science and Technology Council.

From the Back Cover

Tremendous human progress is becoming possible through the development of converging technologies stimulated by advances in four core fields: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology Information technology, and new technologies based in Cognitive science (NBIC). This book provides a unique review of technical developments related to the unification that is rapidly taking place today among these fields. It assesses potential for revolutionary applications of these developments and their likely impact in improving the human condition. The essays included in the book offer a wide variety of scholarly views on the likely societal impacts and policy implications of these developments and applications, including assessments of educational, economic, commercial, legal, ethical, political, and social implications. This is the third in a series of such volumes on converging technologies edited by Drs. Roco and Bainbridge, the first of which is also available from Springer.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402041063
• ISBN 13: 9781402041068
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Bainbridge William Sims