What's the Killer Nano App?

I think that the "killer ap" for nanotech would be either in medical or direct neural interface electronics. Both ideas were described in considerable detail in Leo Frankowski's sci-fi trilogy "Night's Dawn".

The basic ideas are that, in medical use, nano robots similar to StarTrek's Borg nanoprobes would seek out and destroy pathogens and repair damage to cells and tissue. Such techology would be able to cure cancer, AIDS, possibly even scenesence and necrosis.

In neural interface electronics, nanoelectronic processors, storage, sensors and communications devices could be inplanted and interfaced directly into the central nervous system.

Not very simple in application, to be sure, but to me, these are the real promise of nanotechnology.

I think that the consumer applications will be the springboard for nanoscale technology. I can't wait to buy windows that use nanoscale coatings to destroy dirt and grime when ever the sun shines on it! I also think that nanoscale solar cells will be developed to help us capture the sun's power with much greater efficiency than we can do today.

I suspect that at first the cost of research and development, and production would limit the use of nano tech products. I don't see them being used in common markets, and most health industries aren't really interested in curing anything.

It is my belief that such products will not be used for such noble purposes, but they will be used for industrial purposes such as environmental cleanup (fuel oil spills) and the like.

I also have a funny feeling that the possible repercussions of human ingestion of adaptive uncontrollable nano particles may lead to potential disaster.

It is interesting that many eastern countries use photo catalytic TiO2 in a nano grind,to provide anti bacterial coatings to hospital walls. Illuminated, by 490nm light, (not UV) it produces HO radicals and basically oxidizes all organic material (bacteria). Its unfortunate that the USA EPA is so far behind in new technologies and how many people could avoid MRSA infections. Being totally non soluable in water, surface bound to a wall, and even being accepted as a 5% food additive by the FDA. Just dont get it.. gval