A Google for nanotechnology shows quite a diverse set of messages.
The first link is to a technical page at Zyvex, a company that intends to develop affordable, precise, large-scale manufacturing using nanoscale tools. Essentially, this is molecular manufacturing. The linked page goes into detail on why nanoscale fabrication machinery is important, and provides informative links to other molecular manufacturing sites.
The second link points to the home page of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. They have a very broad definition of nanotechnology: basically, anything interesting at the 1-100 nanometer scale. The home page gives the impression that nanotechnology is mainly about nanoparticles, their uses, and their environmental and health risks. Their FAQ does not mention molecular manufacturing.
The third link points to the home page of the recently-renamed Foresight Nanotech Institute. Along with a new name, Foresight has a new focus: advancing the benefits of nanoscale technologies. A cutting-edge technical proposal on their site related to molecular manufacturing research has been downgraded. A few weeks ago, Foresight acquired a new president; we will be watching to see whether they regain any of their original focus on molecular manufacturing.
The fourth link goes to Nanotech-Now.com, an excellent nano news and portal site that covers both nanoscale technologies and molecular manufacturing. They have published several interviews with CRN. Rocky Rawstern, their nanotech editor, won the well-deserved 2005 Foresight Communication Prize.
To be continued...
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