Nanotechnology Uses to Enhance Computer Performance
Nanotechnology Uses to Enhance Computer Performance
Nanotechnology Uses to Enhance Computer Performance
Introduction
Although the core concepts of nanotechnology were introduced in the early 1950’s, nanotechnology was not properly introduced to the world until 1974. That was the year a Japanese scientist, named Tanigushi, coined the word “nanotechnology”. Nanotechnology refers to the constructing and engineering of systems at the atomic level. “Nanotechnology will be the major technology in development of every machine in coming years.” (Wifinotes, n.d.) Nanotechnology will greatly improve the functionality and performance of computers.
Body
In everyday terms, “Nanotechnology is based on manipulations of individual atoms and molecules to build complex atomic structures.” (Tarasov, 2009, pg. 1) Working at the atomic level is a very new technology. The size of a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. For comparison purposes, “A very fine human hair is about 10,000 nanometers wide, which is the smallest dimension we can see with the naked eye.” (Cook, 2005) Before research could begin, researchers had to first invent a machine that could work with such small particles. Their goal was to manipulate atoms and molecules into a particular configuration – a configuration capable of performing functions similar to a microprocessor.
The technology prior to nanotechnology started out rather primitive. It was a major advance in technology when vacuum tubes were invented. They came into existence about the same time Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Vacuum tubes were first used in computers in 1946 until 1958. By then, vacuum tubes could not be made any smaller, so technology gave us transistors. Transistors were used in computers from 1959 to 1964. One transistor took the place of 40 vacuum tubes. When the limits of the transistor were reached, computer builders used integrated circuits from 1965 to 1970. In 1971, the microprocessor came
Nanotechnology Uses to Enhance Computer Performance
Introduction
Although the core concepts of nanotechnology were introduced in the early 1950’s, nanotechnology was not properly introduced to the world until 1974. That was the year a Japanese scientist, named Tanigushi, coined the word “nanotechnology”. Nanotechnology refers to the constructing and engineering of systems at the atomic level. “Nanotechnology will be the major technology in development of every machine in coming years.” (Wifinotes, n.d.) Nanotechnology will greatly improve the functionality and performance of computers.
Body
In everyday terms, “Nanotechnology is based on manipulations of individual atoms and molecules to build complex atomic structures.” (Tarasov, 2009, pg. 1) Working at the atomic level is a very new technology. The size of a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. For comparison purposes, “A very fine human hair is about 10,000 nanometers wide, which is the smallest dimension we can see with the naked eye.” (Cook, 2005) Before research could begin, researchers had to first invent a machine that could work with such small particles. Their goal was to manipulate atoms and molecules into a particular configuration – a configuration capable of performing functions similar to a microprocessor.
The technology prior to nanotechnology started out rather primitive. It was a major advance in technology when vacuum tubes were invented. They came into existence about the same time Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Vacuum tubes were first used in computers in 1946 until 1958. By then, vacuum tubes could not be made any smaller, so technology gave us transistors. Transistors were used in computers from 1959 to 1964. One transistor took the place of 40 vacuum tubes. When the limits of the transistor were reached, computer builders used integrated circuits from 1965 to 1970. In 1971, the microprocessor came
References: American Institute of Physics. (2003). Physics News Graphics. Retrieved from http://www.aip.org/png/2003/186.htm Cook, K.A European Nanotechnology Gateway (n.d.). Faster Processors. Retrieved September 20, 2012 from http://www.nanoforum.org/educationtree/electronics/electronics-fasterprocessors.htm Goth, G Nanooze (2005). Too Small to See. Atom Transporter. Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility. Retrieved September 15, 2012 from http://www.nanooze.org/english/articles/tsts_atomtransporter.html Nanotechnology – Future Technology (2011) ZDNet. (2012). New Nanotechnology to speed up computers. Retrieved on September 19, 2012 from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/new-nanotechnology-to-speed-up-computers/1050