Many thought that nanotechnology is a modern addition to the list of science fiction dreams. But nanotechnology is one of the most exciting development in technology. And it is not so new after all. It was up to a MIT student Eric Drexler to envision the concept fully, with it s staggering implications for industry and society. He coined the word Nanotechnology and was the first to take a Ph.D. in the subject.
Nanotechnology is really an engineering process.
We currently assemble things by using large machines to build smaller ones or taking gross matter and cutting and moulding to manufacture goods. With nanotechnology we start with a single atom and assemble more and more of them until matter is produced. In the 1970 serious paper where written about how impossible the process was from energy perspective. But as recearch progress this protests have quieten down. As with all new research the word nanotechnology has been used for many purposes.