What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? (eBook)

"The authors of What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? answer their question with a broad and balanced examination of the nature of nanotechnology, how it is unfolding, and how these developments will affect issues of global concern: the impact of emerging technologies on the environment, medicine, military affairs, and civil society, and how we can act to achieve better outcomes."
Eric Drexler, author of Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation

"What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? provides a concise but clear introduction to the subject of nanotechnology as well as an excellent overview of nanotechnology's ethical and social implications. I highly recommend it."
James Moor, Dartmouth College

Nanotechnology is an immensely complex area poised to impact virtually all areas of life, ushering in the next technological revolution.

What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? provides a balanced understanding of this important emerging technology and the social and ethical issues that come from it. Divided into three sections, the book starts with a substantial introduction to the science of nanotechnology, then attends to basic issues and principles such as risk and regulations needed to evaluate nanotechnology's impact, with the final section closely examining some of the most important areas of application, such as environmental, privacy, military, medical and enhancement, as well as their ethical and social implications.

Designed for students in ethics and technology, What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? is also an invaluable resource for policymakers, scientists, and industry executives.