Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution

K. Eric Drexler and Chris Peterson with Gayle Pergamit

William Morrow and Company, 1991  

Reviewed by Burt Webb

CHAPTER 1:  A common vision of the future is reviewed that predicts industrialization, pollution, resource depletion, poverty, overpopulation and nationalism will eventually lead to global economic collapse.  Next, brief scenarios of nanotechnological applications in cheap manufacturing, pollution control, medicine, cheap solar energy and transportation are presented.  "Exploratory engineering", which projects future technology on the basis of present knowledge, is contrasted with attempts to anticipate breakthroughs in pure science.

CHAPTER 2: We join a character who enters a future "virtual world" (a computer generated environment) and experiences being shrunk down to molecular size.  A computer chip becomes a vast landscape and the relative sizes and behaviors of nanocomputers, living cells, macromolecules and atoms are explored.  With tactile capability, molecules become toys that can be manipulated.  This is an excellent way to get a "feel" for the relative size and behavior of molecular systems.

CHAPTER 3: The reader now enters a virtual world simulation of a nanotechnology factory containing ultra-miniature industrial robots, control computers, conveyor belts, bins of components, etc.  A "pocket tour guide", which is sensitive to the requests of the user and can offer anything from terse captions for the displays to thorough explanations of the underlying technical principle, narrates the tour.  This is followed by a brief discussion of basic ideas and answers to some initial technical objections to nanotechnology.

CHAPTER 4: The authors outline technical development trends, but are very cautious about making any detailed predictions.  The Scanning Tunneling Microscope (uses electrical fields to explore the topography of an atomic surface) and the Atomic Force Microscope (drags a probe suspended from a spring over an atomic surface) are covered.  These devices are known as "proximal" probes and have already been used to carry out primitive manipulations such as picking up atoms, placing atoms, breaking molecular bonds, etc.

Protein and chemical engineering are briefly explored for their potential as "enabling technologies" for nanotech.  Some specific research programs are mentioned including the Japanese national projects.  Finally, the difficulties of accurately predicting the time course of nanotechnological evolution is discussed and some rough projections are attempted.

CHAPTER 5: The authors are careful to point out that their scenario for early nanotechnological development is only one possible path.  They start with an AFM (Atom Fondling Molecule??) that has some sort of (a) "sticky" molecule at its tip to hold "molecular" tools.  By using different tools to grab and manipulate different molecules, complex molecular objects and machines can be built up one molecule at a time.  Designs for nanoelectronic components, new drugs, special molecular biological and nanotechnological tools can be built this way.  This approach is too slow and expensive for production quantities of any interesting molecular design.

The next advance described is the development of primitive assemblers, which are molecular machines that can assemble molecular objects or machines.  Because they are molecular devices, they operate at sufficient speed and accuracy to turn out large quantities of interesting molecules and molecular machines.

CHAPTER 6: In this scenario, nanocomputers guide the manufacture of sophisticated nanotech products in a series of small buildings in an isolated desert setting.  Power is provided by solar cells that coat the road so pollution and noise are nonexistent.  The components are standardized parts like today's nuts, bolts, tubing, timber, etc. which can be easily snapped together or taken apart.  It will be possible to recycle even sophisticated products.  This vision of nanoproduction includes novel products impossible in today's manufacturing, much greater reliability than is currently possible and "intelligent products" that have onboard computers and robots making them capable of reacting to their environment.  The factory does a rush job on temporary housing for earthquake victims.  The tents assemble themselves from flat packages and include all the amenities.  Chemists, materials scientists, biologists, physicists and computer engineers will be able to easily design and test precise molecular configurations which will accelerate both pure and applied research.

CHAPTER 7: From a general category of "smart materials", smart paint is described in detail.  It applies itself to a surface with little effort and no mess.  It will clean itself, absorb sound, act as a display surface, and even provide solar power on external surfaces.  Smart cloth could change color, adjust its fit, change its thermal properties and style on demand.  Smart furniture could adjust to fit the body of the user, provide warmth and cooling and even give a fantastic massage.

Next, we are given a breakdown of the costs involved in bringing a manufactured item to market.  The impact of nanotechnology is explored for each of the associated costs of manufacturing in order to support the contention that nanotechnology will bring dramatically reduced manufacturing costs.

CHAPTER 8: One of the biggest problems facing the world is the impossibility of Third World industrialization in the face of current world economic conditions, resource depletion and pollution.  If the promise of nanotechnology is fulfilled, these obstacles will vanish and the Third World can achieve a reasonable standard of living.  The potential impact of nanotechnology on construction, housing, food, communication, transportation and the exploitation of space is briefly outlined.  Mention is also made of the "low frontier" idea of putting factories and transportation corridors underground.

CHAPTER 9: Nanotechnology could make great contributions to the restoration of our planetary environment including cleansing the air, water, soil and even near orbital space.  Roving nanotech robots could patrol the various parts of the ecosystem and round up all the pollutants.  This may even be a source of raw materials for further manufacturing.

Environmental groups are gaining political strength and the desire for "environmentally correct" products, which do not diminish environmental quality, have appeared in the marketplace.  Nanotechnology is presented as the best way to enjoy a high standard of living while addressing these environmental concerns.  Finally, the possible nanotechnological restoration of lost species through preserved genetic material is also mentioned.

CHAPTER 10: Nanomedicine is presented as a possible solution to the global crisis in health care.  The human body is a molecular work-yard where molecular machines maintain health and operations, a molecular construction site where molecular machines build necessary biomaterials and a molecular battlefield where molecular guards patrol for and repel molecular invaders.  Beyond the new drugs and medical materials which nanotechnology can bring, nanorobots could be developed which could enter the body without damage or trauma and carry out efficient and thorough diagnosis and repairs.  Even the ravages of aging may be halted and reversed.

CHAPTER 11: The authors of the book are in the unenviable position of being committed to both the development and implementation of a radical new technology and the evolution of a balanced public debate on the pros and cons of this new technology.  They cannot be both promoters and neutral observers and commentators.  Although the next several chapters deal with possible problems related to nanoindustrialization, they are not as thorough as the first part of the book.

This chapter discusses limits and downsides.  First, we hear what nanotechnology cannot do; it cannot "contravene the physical laws of the universe," nor can it reconstruct extinct species for which we do not have genetic material.  It explains how an exploding human population can outstrip even the prodigious ability of nanotechnology to provide for human needs.  Then it points out the social impacts of rapid change, the economic dislocations of decentralization of manufacturing, the problems of changing employment patterns, too much leisure, etc. which are very serious potential problems.

CHAPTER 12: The argument is presented that home, industrial and medical safety problems of nanotechnology will probably be less serious than the current safety problems in those areas.  The danger of the dreaded "runaway molecular replicators" duplicating themselves until they overwhelm us is dealt with by detailing how to design and use replicators in a way that makes such accidents impossible.  The real problem is the possibility of deliberate abuse.  Pointing out the lack of high tech capability exhibited by terrorists in the past summarily dismisses terrorism.  Considering the fact that nanotechnology will enormously increase the potential for easy access and use of high technology, this argument is not compelling.  With respect to the use of advanced weapons by sovereign nations, a plea is made for the further evolution of multinational arms control agreements.  Past experience does not promote confidence in this possibility, especially in view of the problem of monitoring nanotech weaponry.

The scenario approach used in the rest of the book is not employed to dramatize deliberate abuses of nanotech.  No detail is given as to what sort of terrorist and full-scale military weapons could be developed with nanotechnology.  (Possibly?) I guess the authors don't want to give any potential "abusers" ideas.  The problem of regulation is discussed at length.  "Guiding" which is complex and difficult is contrasted with "stopping" which is ultimately impossible.  I noticed that criminal use of nanotechnology is never mentioned although this is the negative aspect of nanotechnology that will be the most difficult to control and most likely to touch the life of an average person.

CHAPTER 13: Scenario 0 is a brief projection of current trends with no dramatic developments such as nanotech.  The world winds down into poverty, resource depletion, and extinctions of many species, pollution and starvation.  Scenario 1 is unrestrained enthusiasm for and acceptance of nanotech.  At first things go well but eventually social and economic turbulence lead to military research that concocts lethal nanoweapons.  Scenario 2 is utter rejection of nanotechnology on a ground swell of negative public opinion.  This results in repression of research that is widespread but not complete.  Eventually, disaster appears suddenly from clandestine research laboratories.  Scenario 3 explores nationalistic rivalry in nanotech research that winds up in classified military labs and eventually erupts into open conflict.  Scenario 4 predicts the evolution of a broad coalition of interest groups, which will lead to "serious debate on nanotechnology and its consequences, which is reasonably open and balanced."  This will provide the basis for a careful and well-regulated implementation of nanotechnology.  It has been said that the proper role of prophecy is to create the future.  This fourth scenario is obviously the world, which the authors fervently hope will be the probable future and a primary motivation in writing this book.

I think all these scenarios will intermingle in the future.  Current problems will not vanish quickly and will cause much suffering.  Both uncritical promotion of, and irrational rejection of, nanotechnology will cause serious problems.  National rivalries will spill over into open conflicts utilizing nanotech weapons.  And amidst all the confusion, there will be the cautious and well-regulated development and distribution of useful nanotechnologies.

AFTERWORD: The Afterword lists many of the concerns of special interest groups such as poverty, arms proliferation, pollution, resource depletion, human rights abuse, energy costs, etc.  And widely supported positive possibilities such as democratization, life extension, space exploitation, etc.  The book contains many explicit references to the solution of the problems and the support of the desired developments.  The authors' intent is obviously to persuade all these separate interest groups that it is in their own self-interest to enter into a coalition to support the reasonable and regulated implementation of nanotechnology.  A brief discussion of needed activities follows.  The activities and the address of the Foresight Institute, which was organized by Drexler and others to support the development and regulation of nanotechnology, are provided.  Following the Afterword is a general bibliography, a technical bibliography and a glossary of technical terms.  

I have a problem with the title of this book.  The dictionary definition of the word "unbounding" is "freeing from restraints" and the last thing these authors want is the "unrestrained growth of nanotechnology."  This entire book is aimed at supporting a reasonable, widely debated and well-regulated implementation of nanotechnology.

The general reader with some understanding of science and technology who is interested in nanotechnology will find this book an excellent introduction to the subject.  This book should also be of special interest to the science fiction author who wants to add veracity to his or her portrayal of the future.  If you have heard about nanotechnology but do not know much about it, you will be well informed on the basics of nanotechnology if you read this book.