Roles of Nanotechnology in Communication - Research Paper Example

Role of Na chnology in Communication, design and Information Technology The term na chnology was popularized by Drexler in the 1970S. Drexler was contemplating constructing machines on a molecule’s scale. While working in Bell Laboratories, he thought of building motors that were a few nanometers wide, computers and robot arms much smaller than the size of a cell. Drexler spent a lot of time analyzing and describing these devices and handling science fiction accusations. As the concept of nanotechnology became more accepted, its meaning changed to include simple type technologies on the nanometer scale. The U.S developed an initiative to fund any technology that was less than 100 nanometers and had novel properties. Experts define nanotechnology as the visualization or measurement at the 1-100 nanometer scale. However, there is an increased acceptance of the idea that reorganization and control of matter at the nanometer scale is an essential element of nanotechnology. Communication, design and information technology are the highly innovative industrial sectors that are quickly growing. Massive progress have resulted due to the transition to nanotechnology electronics from the traditional electronics. Nanotechnology has led to an incredible change in communication, design, and information. Advancement in communication, design, and information technology as a result of nanotechnology can take place in two steps. The first step is the miniaturization top-down approach that takes microstructures that are conventional across the border to nanotechnology. The second step entails the emergence of the bottom-up nanosystem engineering and nano-electronics through technologies such as the process of self-organization to bring together systems and circuits. Roles of Nanotechnology in Communication Nanotechnology has several roles in communication and has immensely impacted the development of wireless communication technologies. In mid-1990’s, micromechanical sensors were developed. They become a critical element of automotive technologies. Approximately ten years later, micromechanical sensors that are more miniaturized are now ensuring features that are novel for mobile devices and consumer electronics. In the present day, the development of sensors that are embedded and based on the nanostructures has become part of the communications industry. Nanotechnologies has augmented the human sensory skills. It is based on integrated sensors and the ability to aggregate this enormous worldwide sensory data into information that is meaningful to people every day (Ermolov et al. 1). Nanotechnology can assist in the development of intelligent devices of the novel kind where learning is an essential characteristic property of the system. These are similar to biological systems that grow and acclimatize freely to the environment. Nanotechnologies may equally open solutions for sensors that are tough in environmental conditions that are harsh and stable for a long duration. In the present day, acceleration sensors, pressure, and mechanical sensors are showing signs of fulfilling these requirements, but the lack of biochemical or chemical sensors still proves to be a challenge. Nanotechnologies has enabled new elements of sensing and new materials for sensors. These have made possible the creation of sensors that are made up of massive arrays with similar elements of sensing and hence led to the development of sensing principles that are novel. Nanotechnology can help in solving the challenge of processing time brought about due to the RF operation in the Gigahertz frequency range. For instance, modern developments in scaling and nanotechnology enable the construction of systems that have nanoscale resonators with large numbers. These systems make feasible spectral processing in the RF domain. In addition, nanotechnology offers novel prospects for antennas. Reduction of the size of the present antennas made using magnetic materials and that conduct materials that are bulk increases dissipation of electromagnetic waves. Optimization of the antenna’s geometry can be done using simulations. However, enhancement of the antenna’s performance would result from nanotechnology by the tailoring of new materials such as magnetic nanoparticles. Role of nanotechnology in Information Technology Nanotechnology’s impact on information technology rotates around two distinct areas. These include the use of nanomaterials for the creation of smaller, reliable, faster and efficient memory for computer application. It also entails the replacement of devices of present day computers for advanced computer devices using the quantum technology of the computer. The use of nanomaterials in creating smaller, reliable, faster and efficient memory entails the application of graphene transistors, memristors, and phase change memory. Memristors are devices of memory that have two terminals and based on switching of resistance (Prodromakis et al. 480). Information scientists have used memristors for the storage of computer data. These electronic devices have been in existence for a long period, but nanoscale memristors were developed recently. Memristors have the capacity of keeping memory states and data in power-off modes. Posers are not needed to sustain the state of memory as a result of the nanoscale. Secondly, advanced technologies of computers are expected to replace existing computer technologies. These advanced technologies will most likely be quantum computers. Here, quantum mechanics is seen to play a crucial role in the performance of emerging systems of nanotechnology that associated with quantum computing and computers. Whereas conventional machines function with bits, quantum computers work with qubits (Ladd et al. 48). Quantum bit is a representation of quantum mechanical states instead of the transistors. The ability of qubits to represent more bits than represented by binary systems and quantum principles that associated with them enable these quantum computers to perform better than a conventional computer. Role of nanotechnology in design Nanotechnology has capacity to change the design environment drastically. Nanotechnology leads to the development of nanomachines that are postulated to dominate the shop floor by 2025. Nanotechnology will carry out operations like the human hands and automatically make products hence replacing all the labor methods that are traditional. These will lead to a reduction in the cost of production, hence making goods cheap for consumers. There has been an unceasing decrease in the proportion of manufacturing cost in the overall cost of production. Nanomachines will equally lead to a reduction in the size of the unit floor. Nanomachines are all purpose and can produce a large variety of components (Kostoff et al. 1738). Manufacturing firms will be capable of producing all the parts of a product with one or two of these nanomachines. These would make terms like plant layout and planning of facility to be obsolete. Despite the positive roles of nanotechnology development in communication, information technology, and design, there are a number of challenges arising due to the prevalence of the technology. These include lack of a well-developed instrument that can assess the exposure resulting due to engineered nanomaterials in water and air. The second challenge the lack of an established method to evaluate the toxicity associated with engineered nanomaterials. Finally, there should be a well-developed model that predicts the potential impact associated with the engineered nanomaterials on human health and the environment. Overall, the technology pioneered by Drexler in the 1960s and 1970s continues to play a significant role in communication, design and information technology. Works Cited Ermolov, V., Heino, M., Kärkkäinen, A., Lehtiniemi, R., Nefedov, N.*, Pasanen, P., Radivojevic, Z., Rouvala, M., Ryhänen, T., Seppälä, E., Uusitalo, M. A. Significance of Nanotechnology for Future Wireless Devices and Communications. Nokia Research Center. Retrieved on 7th April 2015 from http://research.nokia.com/sites/default/files/PIMRC07-1169.pdf Kostoff, R.N., Koytcheff, R.G. and Lau, C.G. “Global nanotechnology research literature overview,” Technological Forecasting & Social Change 74(2007): 1733-1747. Ladd, T.D., Jelezko, F., Laflamme, R., Nakamur, Y., Monroe, C. and O’Brien, J.L. “Quantum computers.” Nature 464.4 (2010): 45-53. Prodromakis, T., Toumazou, C.and Chua, L. “Two centuries of memristors.” Nature Materials 11(2012): 478-481. Read More