Nanotechnology: the growing impact of shrinking computers

Nanotechnology helps make the pervasive aspect of pervasive computing possible. One obstacle to putting computers everywhere is size. You can put a desktop computer, well, on your desktop. But you can't put it in your bloodstream (such pervasive computing applications are indeed being explored). Shrinking computers makes it possible to put them almost anywhere. To envision nanotechnology's potential, think about building things from the molecular level up. At that level, you can build in characteristics and capabilities that aren't readily apparent. Fueled by numerous drivers, projects from data storage to power generation to medical exploration are all putting nanotechnology to use.