Social Issues - Utility Fog

Module Outcomes• Reflect and engage with social and ethical

concerns without fear of judgement• Gain an understanding of what nanotechnology is

and its applications• Gain an understanding of utility fog as a future

concept• Consider the future possible social impacts of

utility fog.

S.T.A.I.R.

Activity 1 Life In 2030

Create a Safe Space

Activity 2 Awareness

“Any useful idea about the future should appear to be ridiculous.”

Jim Dator,University of Hawaii, 2005

AwarenessNanotechnology is:

• Using the properties that emerge for materials at a scale of one-billionth of a metre

as small particlesas nanometre sized devices

Nanotechnology has:• Broad applications in performance materials, health,

consumer products, water, information technology and energy

• The potential to make things lighter, stronger, more efficient and more effective.

Utility Fog

2000x magnification

Foglet

100 microns (1.0 × 10-4 meters)

Creation

Levitation

Manipulation

Fiat 500

Animation courtesy of Adrian Malec @ NanoVicImage courtesy of Steven Martin @ Wikimedia

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Arthur C. Clarke

Quote

Activity 3 Exploring Issues

Self-Thoughts Self-

Behavior

Environment

Technology

Society&

Culture

Social Issues Utility Fog

• What can it do?• What might this

mean?• What don’t we

understand?

Impacts To Consider• Health effects• Environmental

impacts• Governance &

Regulation• Power &

Control• Rights &

Responsibilities

• Equity• Creativity• Design• Permanence• Pace of living• Consumerism• Values.

Remember

• Two types of nanotechnology–utility fog only hypothetical

• Other nanotechnologies allow for solutions to a range of serious global problems

• Utility fog is the invention of one person – you too can have an impact on the future.

Revision1. Scale of nanotechnology2. Areas of application of

nanotechnology3. Applications of utility fog-hypothetical

example of nanotechnology4. Positive and negative uses and

implications.