Technology
Micro and nanotechnology
The terms “micro” and “nano” from the Greek describe the almost inconceivably small dimensions used in these key future technologies. If you consider that one micrometer is a millionth and a nanometer is a thousand-millionth of a meter – around 50,000th of the diameter of a hair - then you can just begin to get an idea of the sort of sizes that these technologies are dealing with.
Microtechnology is concerned with the creation of structures in the region of a thousandth of a millimeter whereas nanotechnology – mostly based on supramolecular chemistry – even makes it possible to change the positions of individual atoms.
Distance-measuring devices and GPS receivers make particularly vivid examples: in 1970 the so-called “geodimeter” weighed around 50kg, today the device which now uses infrared technology has a weight of under 100g; GPS navigation receivers measured 50x40x40cm in 1985, today they have shrunk to 10x5x3cm and can measure 10 to 100 times faster.
Miniaturization shows us the spectacular success of these technologies and how they can revolutionize our lives.
