This rand isn't really.. ranty, as much as it is informative.Today, I'm typing about Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is nifty, because with it, you can practically do anything. Flying and some other things like that aren't possible, but Construction, surgery, excercise, cleaning, repairing.. all these things, and hundreds more are all possible now, but will be revolutionized with the advent of nanotechnology. Basically, nanotech is based on nanites, microscopic robots. Nanites can then be used to do almost anything. Surgery, such as heart bypass surgery, or appendectomies, can be done with an injection, rather than cutting someone open with primitive blades and using hundreds of insturments. They can tear muscle tissue in a way to enhance excercize and develop muscle more efficiently that lifting weights ever could. And fractures in steel buildings, and ship hulls, can all be repaired by nanites that can fuse and mend the fractures to almost perfection.
The reason it works like this is because each nanite can be configured in a way that makes it most efficient. Perhaps with two manipulator arms.. or maybe a drill, or a some heated insturment to melt metals. Whatever it is, the nanites work in swarms to carry out their assigned task. A small onboard computer memorizes it's task, and the location at which it is supposed to work, and some form of propulsion gets it there. A power supply gives them the energy they need to fulfill their task, and sensors complete the package, letting it know where it is, where it needs to be, and if it's current location needs to be worked on, or if it should move on to another place.
There are problems with nanotech, however. Making the nanites is the first one. Creating the nanite, piece by piece, will be difficult for macro-machines, and making millions and billions will be tougher. The trick would be to create self replicating nanites.. However, while a nanite with two manipulator arms might be able to piece two parts together, they cant weld parts together, and the welder-bots won't be able to hold the nanite their working on. Instead, perhaps a mini-assembly line, like, a small cylinder into which you put raw materials and out pop nanites. Inside, millions of nanites work in thousands of parallel assembly lines to create individual nanites. The Next problem is Power. Batteries are big, and, while you can make them small, the amount of power they produce goes hand in hand with size. a Microscopic nanite won't need much, but even with a lithium battery, or a Ni-cad battery, they still wont last long before their power runs out. Instead, an external power suply, such as a magnetic field generator, could power them, or advanced solar cells. A bright light shined at the operating area would power them. For the in-body nanites, perhaps something that uses the salinity of the bloodstream, or glucose could prove efficient for power. Finally, the Computers. While my Pentium III 733 PC would be more than enough power for a nanite or twenty, putting it inside my bloodstream would make any "massive coronary" seem a bit minor. The problem with shrinking down computers, as well, is that the electricity running through the circuitry would melt most metals spun so thin, and with the proximity, the electricity can jump, or arc, just like static shock. And a circuit board cant work if the power jumps all over them pleace, instead of following the route assigned. To prevent the jumping, a shielded superconductor (the only way to prevent melting) would be needed, and at the time, room-temperature superconductors are still lodged firmly in the imagination. since liquid gasses are needed to make today's super conductors, they wouldn't be plausible with nanites, since at their size, the gasses wouldn't be cooled, or stay colled for more than a few minutes. Freezing body parts or steel holding up millions of tons of building isnt plausible either.
The introduction of room-temperature super-conductors will be one of the biggest hurdles, and the other would be construction. With variating applications of todays less-than-main-stream power technology, we can solve the problem of creating nanites, and revolutionalize all fields of science.
Why do I think this is so cool? Why would I rant about this? Because! Think... all those people out there who are unhappy, hurting, or hurt, because of bodily problems, they will have nothign to fear once the technology is perfected. Brain stem damage can be repaired with a shot to the arm. Hell, with a quick addition to programming, the nanites could be ingested or inhaled to enter the body. Blindness can be fixed, scars removed, cancer torm to pieces and ingested by the body for nutrients, baldness stopped and reversed, blood cells improperly created can be corrected, broken bones healed perfectly in minutes, instead of days, arthritis battled and beaten, diseases fought as they enter the body by machines made of metal, as opposed to vulnerable blood cells. Genetic faults repaired befeore they appear in offspring, and that's just medical. Military could reinforce bones with metal lattice for strength, a mettalic mesh implanted subdermally could strengthen skin against small arms fire, enhanced eyesight for nocturnal missions, better balance, and a more steady arm for distance firing and better blood-chemical control to keep soldiers cool and calm in even the most intense situation. The Cosmetic field will change as well. Tired of black hair? Go blonde. Need to be a bit taller, add a bit of muscle and bone, and you gain a couple inches. Girls can wear high heels without the damage they normally sustain from wearing them. face lifts, fat removal, skin tightening and softening can all be done from within with just a tiny tweak of programming. Nanites will change the way everything works when they get here, and I'm damn excited to think about how they can work for us to enhance life, and ease work.
-Kyle