Nanotechnology Expert Analysis: Huge Impacts from Tiny Tech


NEW YORK, NY - May 8, 2006 - The Center for Responsible
Nanotechnology (CRN) today announced the continuation of its first
series of original essays in which industry experts predict profound
impacts of nanotechnology on society. Eleven new articles by members of
CRN's Global Task Force appear in the latest issue of the journal
Nanotechnology Perceptions, published today, complementing the previous
issue's collection. Covering topics from commerce to criminology, from
ethics to economics, and from our remote past to our distant future,
this new collection illustrates the profound transformation that
nanotechnology will have on every aspect of human society.

Ray Kurzweil, renowned inventor, entrepreneur, and best-selling author,
explained, "As the pace of technological advancement rapidly
accelerates, it becomes increasingly important to promote knowledgeable
and insightful discussion of both promise and peril. I'm very pleased
to take part in this effort by including my own essay, and by hosting
discussion of these essays on the 'MindX' discussion board at
KurzweilAI.net."

Nanotechnology Perceptions is a peer-reviewed academic journal of the
Collegium Basilea in Basel, Switzerland. "We jumped at the chance to
publish the CRN Task Force essays," said Jeremy Ramsden,
editor-in-chief of the journal. "To us, these articles represent
world-class thinking about some of the most important challenges that
human society will ever face."

In August 2005, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, a non-profit
research and advocacy organization, formed its Global Task Force to
study the societal implications of molecular manufacturing, an advanced
form of nanotechnology. Bringing together a diverse group of
world-class experts from multiple disciplines, CRN is spearheading an
historic, collaborative effort to develop comprehensive recommendations
for the safe and responsible use of this rapidly emerging technology.

"This outstanding compilation of 22 essays describes some of the
major challenges posed by nanotechnology," said Mike Treder,
executive director of CRN. "However, the collection also makes it
clear that we have only scratched the surface of the risks, challenges,
and opportunities associated with molecular manufacturing."

Like electricity or computers before it, nanotechnology will bring
greatly improved efficiency and productivity in many areas of human
endeavor. In its mature form, known as molecular manufacturing, it will
have significant impact on almost all industries and all parts of
society. Personal nanofactories may offer better built, longer lasting,
cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications,
for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in
general.

However, as a general-purpose technology, molecular manufacturing will
be dual-use, meaning that in addition to its civilian applications, it
will have military uses as well-making far more powerful weapons and
tools of surveillance. Thus, it represents not only wonderful benefits
for humanity, but also grave risks.

"Ongoing work toward molecular manufacturing is advancing rapidly in
several fields," said Chris Phoenix, CRN's director of research.
"These 22 essays examine many of the radical changes that molecular
manufacturing will bring to society. We hope this collection challenges
our readers as much as it informs them. Not much time is left to find
wise solutions."

The CRN Task Force essays have been posted online at KurzweilAI.net and
Wise-Nano.org. Most essays are available for publishing or reprint
under Gnu Free Documentation License (GFDL). The second group of essays
are:

1=2E "Nanoethics and Technological Revolutions: A Pr=E9cis" - Nick
Bostrom
2=2E "From The Enlightenment to N-Lightenment" - Michael Buerger
3=2E "What Price Freedom?" - Robert A. Freitas Jr.*
4=2E "The (Needed) New Economics of Abundance" - Steve Burgess
5=2E "Economic Impact of the Personal Nanofactory" - Robert A.
Freitas Jr.*
6=2E "Corporate Cornucopia: Examining the Special Implications of
Commercial MNT Development" - Michael Vassar
7=2E "Molecular Manufacturing and the Developing World: Looking to
Nanotechnology for Answers." - Don Maclurcan
8=2E "Considering Military and Ethical Implications of
Nanofactory-level Nanotechnology" - Brian Wang
9=2E "Molecular Manufacturing and the Need for Crime Science" -
Deborah Osborne
10. "Safer Molecular Manufacturing Through Nanoblocks" - Tom Craver
11. "Are We Guardians, Or Are We Apes Designing Humans?" - Douglas
Mulhall

The essays published in the previous issue of Nanotechnology
Perceptions are:

1=2E "Nanotechnology Dangers and Defenses" - Ray Kurzweil
2=2E "Molecular Manufacturing: Too Dangerous to Allow?" - Robert A.
Freitas Jr.*
3=2E "Nano-Guns, Nano-Germs, and Nano-Steel" - Mike Treder
4=2E "Molecular Manufacturing and 21st Century Policing" - Tom Cowper
5=2E "The Need For Limits" - Chris Phoenix
6=2E "Globalization and Open Source Nano Economy" - Giulio Prisco
7=2E "Cultural Dominants and Differential MNT Uptake" - Damien
Broderick
8=2E "Nanoethics and Human Enhancement" - Patrick Lin & Fritz Allhoff
9=2E "Strategic Sustainable Brain" - Natasha Vita-More
10. "Is AI Near a Takeoff Point?" - J. Storrs Hall
11. "Singularities and Nightmares: The Range of Our Futures" -
David Brin

* These essays are =A9 Robert A. Freitas Jr., and are not released under
GFDL.


About the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (http://CRNano.org), a
non-profit think tank concerned with the major societal and
environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology, is headquartered
in New York. CRN is an affiliate of World Care, an international,
non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The opinions expressed in the
essays described in this press release are those of the individual
authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Center for
Responsible Nanotechnology, nor of its parent organization, World Care.


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