Diagram of Nanotechnology Applications

Author: Sadao Kawauchi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This book primarily discusses how technicians and researchers active in production lines frequently apply nanotechnology in measurements, dimension determination, or material development. However, when asked about "nanotechnology," they often dismiss it: "No, calling it nanotechnology is too exaggerated." Perhaps this is because nanotechnology is perceived as something distant and futuristic. With such preconceived notions, they fail to recognize that the technology they are familiar with and utilize is actually nanotechnology. Examining the applications and development of nanotechnology can be categorized into three types: 1) Nanotechnology that has already been practically implemented, 2) Nanotechnology that will likely be practical within the next few years, and 3) Future-type technology that may require years of research before it can be applied. When people hear the term "nanotechnology," most immediately think of the third type—just as former U.S. President Clinton described, storing all the records of the U.S. Library of Congress on a substance the size of a coffee sugar cube. However, now it is not an exaggeration to say that nanotechnology has moved from a distant future-type technology to the second type—technology that is being converted into practical production or gradually being applied. Nanotechnology is accelerating to become a technology closely related to us, with increasingly deeper connections to fields such as home appliances, information technology products represented by smartphones, automobiles, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry. The sister book to this one, Illustrated Nanotechnology, is an introductory guide that explains what nanotechnology is in detail using visuals. Since its publication, it has been well-received by researchers, students, and senior corporate executives, who have all praised it as "highly accessible and easy to understand." This book, Applications of Illustrated Nanotechnology, builds on the previous one and responds to many readers' requests to "further explore the practical applications of nanotechnology in various fields and their potential impacts." We have focused on some applications that have already been implemented or are close to being practical. Like the previous book, this one also features numerous illustrations and photographs, using a visual approach to create an immersive reading experience as if the reader were experiencing it firsthand.