Nanotech is really interesting. I had a course on it this term at school, done it all except the final exam (blech!). I don't think we're going to
see it become mainstream very soon, but in 10 or 20 years, I think it will be everywhere. Practical nanotechnologies have already been developed; for
example, I read about a plasma tv that used carbon nanotubes, but there isn't a lot of use yet, and it's mostly what I would call 'quiet and
non-controversial' tech, like the plasma tv example above.
I can't help wondering if T_Jesus knows my prof, though, since they are in the same field. If anyone wants a good read on nano, try "Engines of
Creation" by K. Eric Drexler, available online at
www.foresight.org... or if you have $150 you can get the textbook for ee459, my nanotech
course, "Introduction to Nanoscale Science and Technology" edited by Di Ventra, Evoy & Heflin Jr. I haven't read EOC yet, but it's supposed to be
a nontechnical read. The textbook can get rather confusing if you haven't taken much in the way of university science or engineering, but the
authors tried to avoid the hardcore math whenever possible, so it should be ok if you have a bit of scientific training.
