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

Awareness
Nanotechnology is:
Using the properties that emerge for materials at a scale of one-billionth of a metre as small particles as 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 @ NanoVic Image courtesy of Steven Martin @ Wikimedia

Quote

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke

Activity 3 Exploring Issues

SelfThoughts SelfBehavior

Society & Culture

Environment Technology

Social Issues Utility Fog

What can it do? What might this mean? What dont 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.

Revision
1. Scale of nanotechnology 2. Areas of application of nanotechnology 3. Applications of utility fog-hypothetical example of nanotechnology 4. Positive and negative uses and implications.