The Next Big Thing Is Really Small
How nanotechnology will change the future of your business
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- £5.99
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
What does nanotechnology have to do with your business? Plenty. If you don't believe it, go ahead and wait for the nanotech era to arrive. But don't be surprised when other forward-thinking companies get a head-start. Nanotechnology means that we can design and build materials from the ground up, atom by atom, to exact design specifications. If Levi's came to dominate the jeans market because they used nanostructured materials that have a softer feel than cotton, won't wrinkle, and can prevent stains, what happens to the denim sector? What about the local dry cleaner and laundry detergent makers? Uldrich and Newberry teach readers how to think strategically about nanotechnology and how to apply this newfound knowledge to make wise and profitable investment decisions. They will chronicle the factors driving nanotechnology's rapid developments and detail the events, forces and people who will usher in the next revolution.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ever heard of self-cleaning floor tiles and windows? Or mirrors that won't fog up in the shower? What about army uniforms that can "monitor a soldier's health, detect and detoxify chemical agents, heat and cool the soldier... and independently generate power so the soldier can remain in constant communication with headquarters"? According to Uldrich, director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning, and nuclear physicist and business consultant Newberry, if you haven't heard of these innovations already, you will and soon. They're just a few products in development that were made possible by rapid advances in the field of nanotechnology. The authors explain, "Nanotechnology is, broadly speaking, the art and science of manipulating and rearranging individual atoms and molecules to create useful materials, devices, and systems." With this manipulation, products can be made with fewer imperfections and more durability, drugs can be more efficient and have fewer side effects, and energy sources can be cleaner and more cost-effective. Approximately $2 billion a year is being invested in nanotechnology worldwide in industries such as textiles, plastics and pharmaceuticals. To help determine how directly one's business will be affected by nanotechnology, the authors offer "nanopoints" at the end of each chapter, which raise questions about how to best prepare for change in any given field. The business advice is general and obvious, but the book clearly presents many intriguing and important applications of this burgeoning field, which may interest those looking to invest in nanotechnology.
