Nanotechnology Now |
Home > News > Smart Dust? Not Quite, but We’re Getting There
January 31st, 2010
Smart Dust? Not Quite, but We’re Getting There
Abstract:
Years ago, enthusiasts predicted the coming of "smart dust" — tiny digital sensors, strewn around the globe, gathering all sorts of information and communicating with powerful computer networks to monitor, measure and understand the physical world in new ways. But this intriguing vision seemed plucked from the realm of science fiction.
Smart dust, to be sure, remains a ways off. But technology's virtuous cycle of smaller, faster and cheaper has reached the point that experts say sensors may soon be powerful enough to be the equivalent of tiny computers. Some ambitious sensor research projects provide a glimpse of where things are headed.
Years ago, enthusiasts predicted the coming of "smart dust" — tiny digital sensors, strewn around the globe, gathering all sorts of information and communicating with powerful computer networks to monitor, measure and understand the physical world in new ways. But this intriguing vision seemed plucked from the realm of science fiction.
Smart dust, to be sure, remains a ways off. But technology's virtuous cycle of smaller, faster and cheaper has reached the point that experts say sensors may soon be powerful enough to be the equivalent of tiny computers. Some ambitious sensor research projects provide a glimpse of where things are headed.
If sensor-based computing takes off, it will ignite fresh demand for a wide range of hardware and software to store, process and search the new oceans of data for nuggets of useful knowledge. So it could be a boon to business, a foundation for what analysts call "the Internet of Things."
"It does feel almost like the beginning of the Internet," says Katharine Frase, vice president for emerging technologies at I.B.M. Research. "You can see that sensor computing is going to be important and useful, but it's not possible to see in advance just how it will transform things."
Source:
nytimes.com
Bookmark:
| Related News Press |
News and information
Beautiful "flowers" self-assemble in a beaker: Elaborate nanostructures blossom from a chemical reaction perfected at Harvard May 17th, 2013
Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
Chemistry
Iranian Scientists Use Pomegranate Juice to Produce Copper Iodide Nanostructure May 14th, 2013
Chemistry breakthrough sheds new light on illness and health May 12th, 2013
Researchers develop unique method for creating uniform nanoparticles May 6th, 2013
Four groups at the UJI set up a multidisciplinary cooperative research consortium to advance in medicine, energy and catalysis May 1st, 2013
Possible Futures
UC Santa Barbara History Professor's Book Elucidates, Celebrates ‘Visioneers' May 14th, 2013
Conceptual Nanomedical Lipofuscin Removal Strategy April 29th, 2013
The Global Desalination Market 2013-2023 April 24th, 2013
Sensors
Advancements and developments of solid-state nanopores sensors May 16th, 2013
Physicists discover a new kind of friction: Friction in the nano-world May 16th, 2013
HELIOS Program Develops Complete Supply Chain for Integrating Photonics with CMOS Circuit via IC Fabrication Processes May 14th, 2013
Nanoelectronics
Piezoelectric 'taxel' arrays convert motion to electronic signals for tactile imaging April 25th, 2013
Battery and Memory Device in One April 25th, 2013
Announcements
Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
Scientists capture first direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly effect May 17th, 2013
Energy
Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013
Solar panels as inexpensive as paint? It’s possible due to research at UB, elsewhere May 13th, 2013
Automotive/Transportation
Physicists discover a new kind of friction: Friction in the nano-world May 16th, 2013
Michigan Tech Scientist's Discovery Could Lead to a Better Capacitor April 16th, 2013
Surface diffusion plays a key role in defining the shapes of catalytic nanoparticles April 8th, 2013
Battery Technology/Capacitors/Generators/Piezoelectrics
Add boron for better batteries: Rice University theorists say graphene-boron mix shows promise for lithium-ion batteries May 17th, 2013
New Mechanism Converts Natural Gas to Energy Faster, Captures CO2 May 7th, 2013
Microwave oven cooks up solar cell material: Nanocrystal semiconductor for photovoltaics, medical sensors, heat reuse May 6th, 2013
Improving materials that convert heat to electricity and vice-versa May 5th, 2013
Nanobiotechnology
Advancements and developments of solid-state nanopores sensors May 16th, 2013
 |
||
 |
||
| The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
 |
||
|
|
||
| Premium Products | ||
 |
||
|
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
University Technology Transfer & Patents
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
|
|
||
abbigliamento uomo
Computer Accessories
| © Copyright 1999-2013 7th Wave, Inc. All Rights Reserved | PRIVACY POLICY :: CONTACT US :: STATS :: SITE MAP :: ADVERTISE |