Describes nanotechnology, explaining what it's about, and what it could do. The author explains how previous technological developments have affected us, how nanotechnology fits into the historical trends for technologies ranging from motors to medicine, and others. He analyses the benefits as well as the potential risks

Nanotechnology is the science of designing and building machines at the molecular and atomic levels.Dr. Hall - a leading researcher on the frontiers of nanotechnology who has designed for NASA - describes nanotechnology in a very accessible way, so that anyone can understand what it's about, what it could do, and what it can't do. He puts it into historical context, explaining how previous technological developments have affected us, how nanotechnology fits into the historical trends for technologies ranging from motors to medicine, and how the continuation of these trends, with nanotechnology as a strong determining factor, will have a profound impact on the future. Together with its sister science of biotechnology, nanotechnology has the potential to alter the very human race, change who we are. Can this possibly be good? Should it be encouraged or opposed? No one knows for sure, but the basis for informed thought can be found in these exciting, stimulating pages, which will open the doors of the future to you.