C O N T E X T: Converging Technologies

This report describes and analyzes the convergence of nano-scale technologies and their potential societal impacts. Our goal is to translate complex scientific information and to catalyze widespread public debate. (New or specialized terms related to nanoscale technologies appear in bold in this document and are defined in the glossary— see “NanoGrammar” in Appendix B).

Industry and governments promise that the manipulation of matter on the scale of the nanometer (one-billionth of a meter) will deliver wondrous benefits.

All matter—living and non-living—originates at the nano-scale. The impacts of technologies controlling this realm cannot be overestimated: control of nano-scale matter is the control of nature’s elements (the atoms and molecules that are the building blocks of everything). Biotech (the manipulation of genes), Informatics (the electronic management of information), Cognitive Sciences (the exploration and manipulation of the mind) and Nanotech (the manipulation of elements) will converge to transform both living and non-living matter. When gmos (genetically modified organisms) meet Atomically Modified Matter, life and living will never be the same.

http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/TheBigDown.pdf

-- GregorioIvanoff - 30 Nov 2003
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