Small is beautiful. Review on Technology, Boon or Bane

Finally!! I found a category to write about my favourite technology thats taking the world by storm...........Nanotechnology. I apologise if this becomes too technical though.

Inspite of my frequent visits to MS I am very poor at navigating through the links provided to find a topic (Maybe its time I stopped working and spent more time on MS!!)

I am not very sure how many peole are actually aware of this technology but lemme start with its description.

Nanotechnology is a molecular level manufacturing where particles in the range of 1 nanometre to 100 nanometre is manipulated to make specific applications. 1 nanometre is one billionth of a metre and a nano application if made can be 50,000 times thinner than human hair!!! Imagine the possbile uses of this technology which uses the core areas of physics, chemistry, biology, material science and can fit into any of the industry one can think of right from , biotechnology, lifescience, automobiles, military, the list is virtually endless.

Nanotechnology concept takes the bottom up approach where application is assembled molecule by molecule, bring more order among the chaos. Maybe its a bad idea writing about this in the first place since an entire thesis can be written about the uses of nanotechnology. Since I am more of an automotive guy maybe I'll go about creating awareness in this sector.

The first use of nanotechnology interestingly even before the word ''nanotechnology'' was coined was in the tyres. Carbon black used in the tyre is a form of nanomaterial and one of the most important material in the tire. These days, the improvementof this material has resulted in a tyre being virtually indestructible and the life much much more than the vehicle itself.

Mercedes is the first to pioneer (as always) the concept of nanotechnology by using nanomaterials incorporated paints that is scratch proof (imagine no scratch even if u try doing it with your keys!! How useful it would be in India where some jerks have a habit of putting scratches on new cars)

The platinum in catalytic converters can be replaced by Nanomaterials bringing down the price if the catalytic converter to an unbelievable low price. The price of platinum is around $ 31/g and that for nanomaterial is $44/kg!!! Calculate it for yourself now!!! And........the catalytic properties of nanomaterials has been tested to be much more efficient than platinum.

There are a hell lot of lubricants,fuel addtives and automotive care products available using nanotechnology. One of the most prominent is Farecla windshield coating which makes the car windshield hydrophobic. So no need for windscreen wipers since the water will not stick to the glass at all. For more info vitsit the site https://speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Products_Wiper_Blades_170.html

There even are coatings available for vehicles which make them easy to clean. So one blast of water and your car is as good as new. Though the visibility of technology is not much in India I am hoping that it is available soon here. The Asian market (Korean, chinese, Japanese etc) have already started well funded research in 1997 itself and the technology is already revolutionising the US and European markets.

This was just the tip of the iceberg and for more information, we have the internet friendly neighbourhood search, GOOGLE. Just type nanotechnology and get introduced to a whole new world where ''Small is Beautiful''

Any technology can be a boon or a bane depending on how it is used. The bane side of nanotechnology was very well brought out by Michael Crichton in his book Prey. A bit far fetched but brilliant all the same.

There are environmental concerns at the moment about this technology. Since the particles are so miniscule, it can be easily absorbed by the living bodies which is dangerous. the technology is still at its infancy though and its still too soon to decide whether its a boon or a bane.

This is one amazing technology that is all set redefine the future and change the shape of things to come. Now the quote really make sense doesn't it ''Beautiful things come in small packages''