Posts Tagged "Revolutionary Advancements"

Nanotechnology, Genetic Engineering & Robotics ? Doomsday or Miracle?

Posted by admin on Jun 10, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Advances in nanotechnology have proven that incredible progress is not only possible today and in the future, it is pretty well inevitable. Fantastic advances in nanotechnologic medical research have resulted in life saving techniques that were unheard of even a decade ago.

Genetic engineering research and development provides a means of revolutionizing agricultural output by enhancing crop yields while encouraging a decrease in the necessity for pesticides. It also holds out a promise of attaining newer, improved species of plants and animals, the ability to someday replace or supplement reproduction with cloning and the hope that cures will be developed for many fatal and debilitating diseases, which can only result in increased life spans and improved quality of life.

Robotic engineers firmly believe that development of a truly intelligent machine that is capable of performing most tasks better than humans will be perfected within our lifetime. They envision a time when a highly organized system of machines will perform all tasks with little or no human input.

It is not hard to imagine the revolutionary advancements that are possible if nanotechnology, genetic engineering and robotics combine their expertise in future technological advancements. Either the result will be a utopian world free of disease or pestilence or a jumbled chaos of grey goo and confusion.

Regardless of the outcome, it is inevitable that the future holds profound changes because of nanotechnology, genetic engineering and robotics, whether the accomplishments are made on their own or as a result of a coordinated effort. Along with the imminent progression, however, we must also be aware of the philosophical, moral and ethical issues that will come about as a result of biological change.

In addition to the potential threat from the unleashed power of nanotechnology based scientific advancements, there is also the promise of an improved future for mankind and the world in which he dwells. The line of demarcation is thin and easily crossed and therefore great care and planning must go hand in hand with technological advances.

Naysayers are quick to point out the many pitfalls of unbridled nanotechnology, genetic engineering and robotics research and implementation; however, to the chagrin of futurists, these non-progressive individuals fail to fully conceive of the many benefits these scientific advancements can and will provide. Progressive thinkers are quick to embrace the very real possibility of incredibly low-cost solar power, cures for debilitating disease via intensification of the human immune system, the ability to clean up our environment and the overall improvement of human existence that is not only possible but entirely plausible in the very near future because of nanotechnology, genetic engineering and robotics.

So, are nanotechnology, genetic engineering and robotics to be feared as an impending doomsday event or should they be embraced as miracles of the future? Only by carefully reviewing the past while embracing the future will we be able to tell. After all, if we are willing to build an artificial brain, we must be willing to construct one that is able to see what we cannot.

Tatiana is the owner of the Nanotechnology site www.ecophagy.com and runs www.vidwarp.com among many other sites.

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Is Nanotechnology Totally Useless According to You?

Posted by admin on May 11, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Nanotechnology is the science and art of constructing functional and sometimes powerful devices by manipulating single atoms until they are molecularly sized. In order to achieve some relativity on this, one must be aware that a molecule is measured in nanometers, which is, essentially, one billionth of a meter – an atom is ten times smaller than that.

As a revolutionary concept, nanotechnology covers a wide spectrum that can often be a double edged sword. In the right hands, the extreme capability of nanotechnology can be a positive contributor to medical advancements, environmental cleansing, energy conservation and many other areas that can largely improve human existence on our planet. The down side to nanotechnology is that in the wrong hands it can be a destructive force that may ultimately lead to the annihilation of human existence and even of our planet.

There are varying schools of thought on the benefits versus the threats of nanotechnology pursuits. One outlook is that replicating nanostructures could gobble up the entire planet in about three hours flat while another is that nanotechnology as a science could revolutionize medical treatments for conditions that are presently incurable using standard technology.

Nanotechnology has been credited with many beneficial improvements to existing products like fabrics that totally resist staining, scratch resistant eyewear and sunscreen that can endure greater exposure to the elements for longer periods of time. In addition, creating smaller, more powerful devices via this technology has been a positive contributor to revolutionary advancements in computers, more improved diagnostic medical testing and more efficient means of removing toxicity from areas afflicted with environment contamination. Anyone would have to agree that these advantages are certainly not totally useless attributes of nanotechnology.

Additionally, nanotechnology has been credited with creations from a biodegradable plastic made from waste products produced from fruit growing operations to experimental replacement bone tissue that will not be so easily rejected by the human body after transplant. The advantage of such a product will result in easing human suffering while actually contributing to an extended life span. Anybody wanting to improve on humanity would be hard pressed to declare breakthroughs like this as totally useless.

Despite its propensity to do good, nanotechnology could also lead to the creation of more compact and essentially more dangerous weaponry, which, if it fell into the wrong hands could lead to the development of chemical and biological weapons that are far more deadly, harder to avoid and much easier to conceal than conventional warfare.

Naysayers are quick to point out additional negativities of nanotechnology such as the ability of the military or other covert government organizations to conduct continuous, surreptitious surveillance on each and every citizen. Some go even further by concentrating on the hypothesis that nanotechnology, when used to advance greed and power, could result in total physical and/or psychiatric control of one faction over another.

Will nanotechnology ultimately result in ecophaghy – the consumption of the entire worldwide ecosphere – or will all these doomsday predilections just be totally useless fodder for overactive imaginations?

Tatiana is the owner of the Ecophagy site www.ecophagy.com and runs www.Totally-Useless.com among many other sites.

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