Foresight Update 5 (page 5)
A publication of the Foresight Institute
Books of Note
Books are listed in order of increasing specialization and level of reading
challenge. Your suggestions are welcome. And remember, if a book's price
looks too high, your library should be able to get it though interlibrary
loans.--Editor
Signal: Communication Tools for the Information Age,
ed. Kevin Kelly, Harmony Books, 1988, paperback, $16.95. A Whole Earth Catalog
focusing on high tech subjects, mixes serious items (e.g., FI) with
lighter ones. Foreword by FI advisor Stewart Brand.
Filters Against Folly, by Garrett Hardin, Penguin Books,
1985, paperback, $7.95. A respected environmentalist looks at the relationship
between ecology and economics over time, pointing out the problems of "commonization"
and the error of thinking every worldwide problem is "global."
A systems approach to a difficult problem; highly recommended. One jarring
note: Hardin's seeming belief that economics is a zero-sum game.
Molecules, by P.W. Atkins, Scientific American Library
Series #21 (distributed by W.H. Freeman), 1987, hardcover, $32.95. Lavishly
illustrated and elegantly written in nontechnical language, it makes the
molecular world understandable. Requires no prior knowledge of chemistry.
Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, ed. Irene Greif,
Morgan Kaufman, 1988, hardcover, $36.95. A collection of papers on groupware
and hypertext. Includes classic visionary papers by Vannevar Bush and Douglas
Engelbart, interesting work by Thomas Malone, Robert Johansen, Xerox PARC,
others.
Text, Context, and Hypertext, ed. Edward Barrett, MIT
Press, 1988, hardcover, $35. Diverse set of papers on how computers and
hypertext have changed the way people write using computers. Strong emphasis
on computer documentation. Quality is uneven, with some overlap, but includes
some noteworthy papers.
The Ecology of Computation, ed. Bernardo Huberman, Elsevier
Science Publishers, 1988, paperback, $39.50. Now available in a somewhat
more affordable edition. Open-systems perspective on advanced computing.
Includes a set of three papers on agoric market-based computation. For the
computer literate.
Proteins: Structures and Molecular Properties, by Thomas
E. Creighton, W.H. Freeman, 1984, hardcover, $37.95. Invaluable reference
for protein designers and nanotechnologists thinking about molecular self-assembly.
Quanta, by P.W. Atkins, Clarendon, 1974 (reprint 1985),
paperback, $29.95. Qualitative explanations of quantum theory concepts with
a bare minimum of mathematics, in dictionary format. A reference rather
than a beginner's text.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Hypermedia Workshop
Since last issue we've received news of a Hypermedia Design Workshop held
last October. Organized by Jan Walker of DEC and John Leggett of Texas A&M--and
funded by DEC--it was the first of two invited hypermedia meetings. The
goal of the first was to bring together representatives of as many of the
major hypertext media systems as possible, have them compare designs, and
design a hypermedia storage substrate that would support the various systems.
The second meeting is planned for Texas in early 1989 and will look at user
interface issues and standards.
The following are the participants, their organizations, and the systems
they've worked on: Rob Akscyn (Knowledge Systems: KMS), Doug Engelbart (McDonnell-Douglas:
NLS, Augment), Steve Feiner (Columbia: FRESS, Interactive Graphical Documents),
Frank Halasz (leader of a new hypertext team at MCC; also Xerox's NoteCards),
John Leggett (Texas A&M: teaches graduate course on hypertext), Don
McCracken (Knowledge Systems: ZOG, KMS), Norm Meyrowitz (Brown: Intermedia),
Tim Oren (Apple: HyperCard), Amy Pearl (Sun: Sun Link Service), Mayer Schwartz
(Tektronix: Neptune/HAM), Randy Trigg (Xerox PARC: TEXTNET, NoteCards),
Jan Walker (DEC: Concordia, Symbolics Document Examiner), Bill Weiland (U
of Maryland: Hyperties).
The only (known) major hypermedia systems not represented were Xanadu and
Guide. Marc Stiegler, Xanadu's Director of Product Development, reports
that all team members were "locked in their offices, creating software"
and therefore unable to attend.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Letters to FI
The Foresight Institute receives hundreds of letters requesting information
and sending ideas. Herewith some excerpts:
I am enclosing an article, "Microscopic Motor is a First Step,"
by Robert Pool, published in the Oct. 21 Science. The article
discusses recent developments in micron-scale mechanics. I have seen similar
discussions elsewhere.
A problem in this and other stories on micromachines is that they often
confuse information about nanomachines with information about micromachines.
Expecting micromachinery (which is developing sooner) to accomplish the
tasks of nanomachinery could disillusion proponents of micromachinery, and
mistakenly discredit claims for nanomachinery. The practical distinction
between these two technologies needs to be clarified.
Tom McKendree
Garden Grove, CA
I agree that progress toward nanotechnology can't be prevented by any
sort of organized suppression. If any one group, country, or group of countries
tries, someone else will make breakthroughs eventually. And I believe that
once it's developed, any attempt to make the technology proprietary will
be short-lived. The secrets of nanotechnology will be simply too important
to not have attempts made at espionage, midnight computer hacking, and theft...
"The Problem of Nonsense in Nanotechnology" points out the problems
of spreading misconceptions about nanotechnology and their interference
with foresight. If nanotechnology has the capacity to utterly change society
for better or worse, then the general public needs to get prepared. But
I don't think people will be as interested in the details of the technology
as much as the kinds of change that will be brought about. Engines
of Creation points out a future, perhaps as close as the first
half of the 21st century, with fantastic possibilities. To spark curiosity
and interest it's necessary to discuss things like remaking the physical
shape of humanity. But dwelling on the fantastic would be an open invitation
to bogosity. To make best use of the next few decades, the public needs
to focus on issues such as population control, active shields, environmental
renewal, and space exploration.
John Papiewski
Elgin, IL
Currently I am a student at USC, interested in pursuing a career in the
field of nanotechnology...How should I structure my curriculum in order
to pursue this goal? It seems that this field is interdisciplinary in nature,
consisting of physics, electrical engineering, molecular biology, and chemistry.
Is there a common denominator?
Shawn Whitlow
Manhattan Beach, CA
Students and others interested should request a free copy of FI's Briefing
#1, "Studying Nanotechnology." Send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Ultimate Computing
Stuart R. Hameroff's Ultimate Computing: Biomolecular Consciousness
and NanoTechnology (Elsevier, 1987, $78), is an uncritical mix of
fact, fancy, and fallacy. Hameroff says "...this book flings metaphors
at the truth. Perhaps one or more will land on target..." Perhaps--but
the reader must sort the hits from the misses. One miss is his central premise,
that "...the cytoskeleton is the cell's nervous system, the
biological controller/computer. In the brain this implies that the basic
levels of cognition are within nerve cells, that cytoskeletal filaments
are the roots of consciousness." (Emphasis in original.) Unfortunately,
there is every reason to believe this is completely wrong. This casts something
of a pall over the book.
Hameroff's chapter on nanotechnology is better than his average, although
it adopts the curious perspective that nanotechnology really began with
Schneiker in 1986, with Drexler mentioned only in passing. (Readers can
check Drexler's 1981 PNAS
paper and decide for themselves.) This is explained by the acknowledgements
which say that "Conrad Schneiker [Hameroff's research assistant] supplied
most of the material on nanotechnology and replicators for Chapter 10..."
Hameroff covers a lot of ground. He has chapters on the philosophy of the
mind, the origin of life, the cytoskeleton, protein dynamics, anesthesia
(a good chapter--Hameroff is an anesthesiologist), viruses, and nanotechnology.
He gives his own qualifications in a dozen fields as "...an expert
in none, but a dabbler in all..." He's mostly right. There are better
books written by more qualified people--the reader is advised to select
from among them.
Dr. Merkle's interests range from neurophysiology to computer security;
he also lectures on nanotechnology.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Media
Nanotechnology media interest continues to increase. Since last issue we've
seen articles in these major publications: IBM Research Magazine
(Fall 1988), Fortune (Dec. 5), OMNI (Jan. 89),
and Interview (Jan. 89). Prospects are good for a Nova-style
British documentary on nanotechnology.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Meeting News
January and February saw a number of nanotechnology-related events: MIT's
annual symposium (see report elsewhere
in this issue), a lecture at Bell Communications Research--a spinoff
of Bell Labs--on Jan. 13, major coverage of protein folding and design at
the AAAS meeting in San Francisco, a lecture at Silicon Valley's Software
Entrepreneurs Forum on Feb. 17, a nanotechnology Physics Colloquium at the
University of Seattle [see
correction], and Nanocon,
a regional meeting sponsored by the Seattle Nanotechnology Study Group.
The last three have yet to occur as we finish this issue, so will be reported
on next time.
In addition to the items listed in the "Upcoming
Events" column, both Hewlett-Packard and Union Carbide are planning
meetings to discuss nanotechnology.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Nanotechnology Education
A Foresight Institute Briefing paper is available for students and others
who want to learn the basics underlying nanotechnology. Send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to FI and ask for Briefing #1, "Studying Nanotechnology."
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Nanotechnology Policy
A team of graduate students and faculty at the Lyndon B. Johnson School
of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin has been asked to
conduct a study of the political and economic ramifications of nanotechnology.
Headed by Dr. Susan Hadden, this research project is in the format of a
two-term course. The fall 1988 term started off with an introductory lecture
by Eric Drexler; the students went on to study the technology itself and
the effects of other formerly new technologies such as biotechnology. This
spring they will attempt to predict the kinds of social, economic, and political
changes inherent in widespread adoption of nanotechnology, and will review
various policy responses and their possible effects.
The effort is funded by Futuretrends, a nonprofit educational group. Roger
Duncan, president of Futuretrends and longtime Foresight supporter, initiated
the project, which is expected to release its report in mid-summer 1989.
[see correction]
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Nanotechnology & Microengineering
Progress
Newsletter review by Chris Peterson
This quarterly newsletter covers a wide range of topics, arranged under
five headings:
- Microchips--semiconductor technology
- Micromachines--miniature and micromachines
- Molecular Engineering--genetic engineering and biotechnology
- Sensors--a subset of micromachines
- Microstructures and Micromechanics--includes new materials, computer
advances, brain theory, math, and semiconductor fabrication, as well as
microstructures and micromechanics
The items consist of abstracts describing research news, technical papers,
company announcements, and patents. Company profiles and brief market analysis
comments also appear. The publication's commercial slant will be useful
for investors.
The enabling technologies leading toward nanotechnology--protein and other
polymer design, supramolecular (and biomimetic) chemistry, and STM/AFM based
micromanipulation--were not covered in the premiere issue we saw, so the
publication's name seems a bit of a misnomer. However, this has the advantage
for potential subscribers that N&MP should have little
if any overlap with Update.
The newsletter does a good job at summarizing progress in various micron-scale
technologies. For the technically literate reader who wants to keep up with
these, for business or other reasons, this publication could easily be worth
the subscription price.
N&MP is available from STICS, Inc., 9714 South Rice Ave.,
Houston, TX 77096, (713) 723-3949. It is edited by Donald Saxman and costs
$200 per year, with a 25% discount for libraries, universities, and medical
schools, and an extra $20 charge for overseas airmail. A sample copy of
the first issue costs $20.
Table of Contents - Foresight
Update 5
Nanotechnology Online
There is a nanotechnology Netnews group, sci.nanotech, on the USENET system.
The USENET newsgroups form a large, distributed, hierarchical electronic
bulletin board; formerly available only to those with UNIX machines, it
is now accessible to anyone through services such as the WELL at 415-332-6106
(data), 415-332-4335 (voice) and the Portal at 408-725-0561 (data), 408-973-9111
(voice).
In cooperation with FI, sci.nanotech
carries most FI publications. The moderator is Josh
Hall (josh@klaatu.rutgers.edu or rutgers!klaatu.rutgers.edu!josh), who
can answer specific questions about the group by electronic mail.
[Note: JoSH's current email address is josh@cs.rutgers.edu.
He maintains an archive of nanotechnology papers and related material at
http://nanotech.rutgers.edu/nanotech/
]
Table of Contents
- Foresight Update 5
Foresight thanks Dave Kilbridge for converting Update 5 to html for this
web page.
From Foresight Update 5, originally published 1
March 1989.
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