JUNE 2002 BROADSHEET - Emerging Technologies
In direct contrast to our April meeting, which was on a European subject we had no need for the horse-shoe layout for Emerging Technologies in May. The hall was packed, theoretically with 86 in the audience, though we know that, perhaps because of the intense tropical rain storm that heralded the meeting, several members couldn't make it. Added to this complication one of our speakers needed to get back early to his newly born baby girl and changed from last to first, and another had been at a meeting with the Prime Minister in London and slipped in as the last.
The first technology to emerge was Nanotechnology, from the Greek dwarf or very tiny. Professor Mark Welland, of the Cambridge University Engineering Department and a newly elected Fellow of the Royal Society, showed us photographs of DNA strands in which the double helix was quite distinct. There were also examples of arranged molecular patterns showing clear quantum effects. This was done with a very powerful electron microscope by which he was able to manipulate individual atoms, one of his examples was in the form a molecular gear train. It was also possible to control physical properties with nanometric precision and achieve logic function through magnetic propagation. With these tiny super-para-magnetic transistors it would be possible to cram 250,000 million transistors into a square centimetre, compared with the present theoretical maximum for silicon of 10 million. This would give enormous advantages of speed, size and economy of power. He reckoned on a future trillion dollar industry. (Contact: mew10@eng.cam.ac.uk)
Dr Andrew Herbert of Microsoft Research, Cambridge, spoke to us next about future computer developments. Lots of new concepts came tumbling forth: disaggregated computers, elastic software, information sharing portals, XML meta-data, web service description language, peer to peer overlay networks, content based addressing, MIRA screens and headless servers. No time scale suggested, except that advances in network bandwith double every 6 months (cf. Moore's Law; every 18 months), and it was all to do with the increasing use of wireless networks and being able to tap into computers anywhere from telephone, pocket-sized and A4-sized tablet PCs. It was the combination of networks and software that is setting the agenda for the future of computing. (Contact: aherbert@microsoft.com)
Finally Professor Richard Friend, FRS, of the Cavendish Laboratory, hot-foot from Whitehall, arrived to tell us about what to expect within the next ten years in his field, ie. the replacement of silicon, as a base for all computing, with the humble molecule. In fact he is sharing the new Interdisciplinary Centre for Nano-Fabrication that is being built on the West Cambridge site with Prof Mark Welland. Instead of battling with intractable crystalline structures carbon based molecules can be transported by water using weak forces. Semiconducting polymers are already being used to form passive matrix displays, which show great promise as a replacement for LEDs. This same principle can produce plastic transistors, which will significantly reduce the cost of computers. The manufacturing process, now licenced to Seiko-Epson, consists in very fine ink jet printing of the substances in the form of paints on to plastic based substrates. This will enable local low product cost runs with far greater scope for variety and evolution. (Contact: rhf10@cam.ac.uk) After much discussion and questions showing a great deal of interest, Malcolm Wilkinson announced a conference he is organising on Microtechnology, Nanotechnology & Precision Engineering taking place on 10 and 11 June at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Oxford. You can find out more and register on line at: http://www.visiononline.tv/ or e-mail: sarah@tfi-ltd.co.uk
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