Smart Economy

Smart Ecocities, Sustainable living, Migration and localized climate change?

With Vancouver hosting the 3d World Urban Forum -WUF3 this week, now is a good time to explore the topic of rapid urbanization and its effects on climate change.

Are there any smart solutions to mitigate this looming crisis?

Background

In 1900, most people lived in the countryside, with a little over 10 per cent of the world’s population living in cities. (see graph from New Scientist: City Living - By 2007 most people will be urbanites. )

Scientists are predicting that by next year, for the first time in human history, more people on earth will be living in urban settings -in cities than in rural areas, and this will only increase.

"By 2025, according to one United Nations estimate, 60 to 70 percent of all people will live in cities. Many of the fastest-growing areas for city growth are in arid areas."

The current issue of New Scientist explores this growth phenomenon, proposing that Ecocities are the answer to solving future migration and urbanization problems.

"The migration from rural idyll to urban living can now be seen in the meteoric growth of megacities across the globe – there are now 20 such cities with populations over 10 million. 

And the environmental impact they have on the planet could be catastrophic.  But far from being parasites on the earth, cities could hold the key to sustainable living for the world’s booming population.  All you need to do is build them right.  Designers are already planning eco-cities - where you would recycle everything, cut car use, build energy efficient buildings, integrate your work place with living areas, and embrace urban farming"

In the past, planners have designed cities around cars rather than people.

The New Scientist cover page (see above) is interesting to explore. It illustrates the contrast in thinking from old to new. It shows neatly manicured organic gardens and urban farming replacing concrete roadways and cars. Rooftop gardens and trellises offer wintertime insulation and reflect heat in the summer as well as a local supply of fruits and vegetables, not to mentio noise reduction and fresh air. A sleek monorail whisks people from station to station. Glass enclosed tube-shaped walkways connect one energy efficient building to another. Hanging gardens and water fountains cool the air. Wind turbines and solar cells generate up to 85 per cent of the electricity used in buildings, and rooftop rainwater collectors supply 70 per cent of its water needs.

Later this year work is due to begin on such an ecocity project, an ecological island on the doorstep of Shanghai-called Dongtan. 

"The plan is to develop a new way of living that could demonstrate to the world that rich cities don’t have to ruin the environment but could form a blueprint for future green cities."

Smart Growth?

Thanks to one of our blog readers, Meelena Oleksiuk from MIT, who is coincidently writing a term paper called Environmental Sustainability and the City: Planning Opportunities, which she was good enough to pass along.

In her term paper, Meelena offers a definition of Smart Growth:

"The following are the principles of Smart Growth, as outlined by The Smart Growth Network: mixed land uses; compact building design; a range of housing opportunities and choices; walkable neighborhoods; distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place; open space; farmland; development directed towards existing communities; a variety of transportation choices; predictable, fair and cost effective development decisions; and community and stakeholder collaboration. The main focus of smart growth is on the minimizing of the human spatial and environmental footprint through the infill of already urban but neglected areas with simultaneous protection of unurbanized land."

Source: Lantsberg, Alex. Sustainable Urban Energy Planning: A Roadmap for Research and Funding. California Energy Comission, 2005.

see  Smart Growth Network. About Smart Growth. Sustainable Communities Network, 2006.

Panacea or Persistent Problem?

But some scientists are not convinced that the effects of growing urbanization will be benign.

Human activities in arid urban environments can affect rainfall and the water cycle

A study by a climatologist in the department of geography at the University of Georgia has shown, using a unique 108-year-old data record and NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, that arid cities such as Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Phoenix have an effect on rainfall patterns around them. 

As important, it appears that human activities such as land use, aerosols and irrigation in these arid urban environments affect the entire water cycle as well. 

In the past half-century, cities have begun to expand in some of the Earth's most arid areas.  While scientists have known for some time that the so-called "heat-island" effect of large cities such as Atlanta and Houston can affect their weather, they knew less about this effect and other processes in arid cities, such as Phoenix, which have experienced explosive population growth. 

"Many of the fastest-growing urban areas are in arid regimes," said Marshall Shepherd, author of the report just published in the online edition of the Journal of Arid Environments.  "Because their total rainfall is low, these areas have been largely ignored in studies on how human activities affect the water cycle.  But these cities are particularly sensitive to such changes, since the water supply is so critical."

Cities in arid areas are excellent models for understanding human-induced changes in the water cycle.  In most cases, the cities have shown great growth only in the last 30-50 years because of new methods of irrigation and ways to obtain water for daily use.  In the case of Phoenix, Shepherd had access to a unique 108-year-old data record that covered pre-and post-urban times and for the first time confirmed that a statistically significant change in rainfall took place in certain areas of Phoenix from the late 1890s to the present.

The stakes in understanding how weather affects the water-cycle in all cities are enormous. 

One of the most interesting findings in the new study was a 12-14 percent increase (which scientists call an anomaly) in rainfall in the northeast suburbs of Phoenix from the pre-urban (1895-1949) to post-urban (1950-2003) periods.  A previous study first noted the possible anomaly but focused only on the post-urban period, so it was not clear whether the change was tied to post-1950 urbanization around Phoenix.  It is hypothesized that this anomaly is related to urban-topographic interactions and possibly irrigation moisture.  Indeed, the role of irrigation in changing the weather of cities in arid areas is one of the more intriguing findings, and one that will bear more study.

"We think that these human activities can actually alter the natural system and interact with monsoon flow and mountain convection," said Shepherd.  The weather in Phoenix, in fact, is affected by both.

Riyadh has also shown significant grown in the past few decades, and its weather also has been affected by the heat-island affect.  (The large surface of pavement and buildings actually increases the heat of a city area, and when that heat rises, it can change weather patterns in and near cities.)  Precipitation patterns have changed in Riyadh as well, though the causes are less clear than in Phoenix.  Ground data confirm a recent significant increase in rainfall around Riyadh.

Through use of rainfall records and information from the Landsat, Aster and TRMM satellites, Shepherd was able to demonstrate unusual patterns that clearly show how human activities are affecting the weather in arid regions.  This study also illustrates how satellite data can be used to observe the changing landscape and climate in regions like the Middle East, where traditional measurements are sparse or inaccessible.

"The results showed us just how sensitive the water cycle can be to human-induced changes," said Shepherd, "even under arid or drought conditions.  These findings have real implications for water resource management, agricultural efficiency and urban planning."

Indeed, weather and climate models for these areas must increasingly deal with patterns of urban land use, aerosols and irrigation if they are to help planners understand and predict these large-scale processes.

"It's fair to say we don't yet understand how all these variables work together to change the water cycle in these arid regions," said Shepherd, "but these cities live and die by their water supplies, and we must begin to study these anomalies more and find out how they work."

© 2005-2006

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To arrange for an inhouse presentation on smart technology see here

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me or explore how we can work together

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page

Unintended Consequences; Wind turbines confuse radar; Microbes create more harmful compounds; Crows munch on optic fiber cables

Until you see how something works in the field and interacts with its surroundings you just can't predict in advance, what the effects might be.  Here's a couple of recent examples of unintended consequences that crossed my desk

Wind Turbines confuse radar

The Alternative Energy field took a big hit recently when the USA government halted the construction of several wind turbine farms, because it was discovered that they could interfere with radar.  ( national security trumps environmental concerns and global warming again)

Microbes transform 'safest' PBDEs into more harmful compounds .

We are used to hearing that microbes break material down into simpler components.  But, scientists are now finding that bacteria in the soil can transform the most commonly used flame retardant compound in the United States into more toxic forms that could be harmful to humans, according to a new laboratory study published on the Web site of the American Chemical Society journal, Environmental Science & Technology.  The finding suggests these transformations could complicate efforts to reduce or eliminate the most problematic polybrominated diphenyl esters (PBDEs) from the environment.

Japanese crows munch on fiber optics cable

The most humorous example I've seen relates to crows-one of the smartest birds in our urban environment It seems that crows in Tokyo, Japan have taken a liking to fiber optics for nesting materials.  See Fiber-optic cable proves choice target for mischievous crows

© 2005-2006

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To arrange for an inhouse presentation on smart technology see here

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page

Biomimicry; Nature Meets Technology; First International Symposium for Biologically-inspired Design and Engineering

Through the centuries, nature has inspired countless number of poets, artists and musicians - now engineers are looking to nature to help them solve some of the most complex problems of the day. 

For two days, May 11-12, researchers from 20 institutions will gather at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the first International Symposium for Biologically-inspired Design and Engineering.  Evolving field is the belief that every animal must solve a particular problem to survive, so every animal embodies a design solution for a particular problem.

"The natural selection and evolution of species provides us with the longest engineering design test of all time," said Jeannette Yen, professor in Georgia Tech's School of Biology.  "By studying how organisms solve the problems they face, we get to benefit from the millions of years of knowledge embedded in the DNA of each creature."

See press release

© 2005-2006

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To arrange for an inhouse presentation on smart technology see here

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page 

NanoTech Essays: Economic Impact of the Personal Nanofactory by Robert A. Freitas Jr.

Hypothetical Desktop Nanofactory

Here's the first in a series of essays on the social impacts of nanotechnology that I promsed on Sunday.

Economic Impact of the Personal Nanofactory by Robert A. Freitas Jr.

Deflationary forces resulting from mass availability of desktop personal nanofactories can be opposed by inflationary forces competently initiated by governmental monetary authorities.

Is the advent of, and mass availability of, desktop personal nanofactories (PNs) [1] likely to cause deflation (a persistent decline in the general prices of goods and services), inflation (a persistent general price increase), or neither? 

A definitive analysis would have to address:

(1) the technical assumptions that are made, including as yet imprecisely defined future technological advances and the pace and order of their introduction;

(2) the feedback-mediated dynamic responses of the macroeconomy in situations where we don't have a lot of historical data to guide us;

(3) the counter-leaning responses of existing power centers (corporate entities, wealthy owners/investors, influential political actors, antitechnology-driven activists, etc.) to the potential dilution of their power, influence, or interests, including their likely efforts to actively oppose or at least delay this potential dilution;

(4) legal restrictions that may be placed on the widespread use of certain technological options, for reasons ranging from legitimate public safety and environmental concerns to crass political or commercial opportunism;

(5) the possibility (having an as yet ill-defined probability) that nanotechnology might actually "break the system" and render conventional capitalism obsolete (much as solid state electronics obsoleted vacuum tubes), in which case it is not clear what new economic system might replace capitalism; and

(6) the changes in human economic behavior that may result when human nature itself may have changed.

A definitive answer is beyond the scope of this essay.

Here, we take only a first look at the question.

Price/Performance Assumptions

Our preliminary analysis begins with an assumption that at the end of a 20-year period of introduction, almost every household in a given developed country has purchased a PN.  The PN will be capable of building any manner of consumer goods using simple molecular feedstock such as acetylene or propane gas that will be piped into the home via a utility connection, similar to present-day hookups that deliver natural gas, water, and electricity.  There are other delivery scenarios such as bottled gas feedstock, and more self-sufficient feedstock provisioning scenarios such as nanoblock premanufacturing, solar-powered recycling, biomass/biowaste extraction, or even atmospheric extraction, but these will be set aside here both in the interest of simplicity and because they may be heavily regulated [2] or in some cases even declared illegal [3].  If we further assume that (1) the price to acquire the PN is approximately US$4400 (see below), (2) the PN has a mass of 10 kg and produces consumer products at the rate of 1 kg/hr [1], and (3) the PN is operated 50% of the time throughout a useful lifetime of 10 years, then the PN during its useful life produces 44,000 kg of consumer products which then have an amortized capital cost of $0.10/kg, a cost that is built into every product manufactured by the PN.  The $4400 price point for the PN was taken as a plausible figure that might reasonably be chosen by a U.S. manufacturer.  This price point cannot be too cheap or there is no profit, nor too expensive or there are no buyers.  For comparison, $4400 will purchase a good quality large-screen TV, a high-end refrigerator/freezer, or a topnotch laptop computer in the U.S. today.  The PN will be a versatile appliance, able to manufacture whatever is deemed legal in the 21st century such as: (1) consumer goods including nondurables such as food and durables heavily laden with nanosensors, nanomotors, nanopumps and nanocomputers, (2) all the patterned sheets or chunks of diamond that anyone might want, and (3) some kinds of medical nanorobots for personal use, though these may be heavily regulated.  We assume that the PN will not be allowed to manufacture contraband, nor various types of weapons systems including ecophages [4], or more Pns (which would nullify the R&D funding and manufacturing business model).  If the public is not allowed to manufacture Pns using Pns [5], then the production cost of a PN using a PN becomes almost irrelevant to the retail price of a PN.  The manufacturer may charge $4400 for a PN even if it only costs them $10 to make one (see below), using the difference to pay for showrooms and sales staff, marketing and advertising, legal costs for defending the brand and a monopolistic pricing regime, product liability insurance costs (which could be substantial), warranty and servicing costs, online and print publications including consumer how-to books and magazines, websites and online help desks, executive overhead and corporate perks, and perhaps modest dividends from profits for the shareholders.  Assuming the average person in the developed world consumes 2000 kcal/day of food, and taking the average energy density of food (arbitrarily weighting protein:carbohydrate:fat in a 4:3:3 ratio) as 24 million J/kg [6], then the person is consuming about 130 kg/yr of food.  Further assuming this average person consumes four grocery bagfuls per week of nondurables with each bag containing 2 kg of useful product, then the average person requires 400 kg/yr of consumer nondurables (of which 130 kg/yr is food). 

The PN is assumed to produce 4400 kg/yr of consumer products.  Given that the average person in an industrialized economy needs 400 kg/yr of nondurables, or 1600 kg/yr for a household of four people, this leaves 2800 kg/yr either for increased nondurables consumption or for the manufacture of desired consumer durables.  Durables might include clothing, appliances, furniture, and cars. 

Large automobiles that weigh 2000 kg today might weigh as little as 200 kg if made of much stronger diamondoid materials [7], so the production budget would allow up to 14 diamondoid cars per year to be built.  Thus, a single PN per household with the above parameters is probably sufficient to satisfy all reasonable household needs for residents of industrialized countries.  Cost of PN-Manufactured Goods The base operating cost of a working PN, and hence the price of anything that can be manufactured by the nanofactory, should approximate the cost of the material and energy inputs.  Of course, "cost" is not price-in a capitalist economy, prices of goods are set by competitive markets.  In a stable equilibrium economy, the price of manufactured goods that are in demand cannot long persist below the base cost of the material inputs. 

But added to those base input costs, and hence indirectly added to the price of a good, will also be various intangible costs, which for the PN might include some or all of the following:

(1) acquisition financing or opportunity costs;

(2) PN licensing costs;

(3) the cost of product-description information not in the public domain (e.g., IP fees, per-use fees, per-bit fees);

(4) communications toll charges for PN data links, with flat baseline fee varying by transmission speed, fidelity, security, and availability for product data downloads;

(5) fee for dangerous-product construction blocking (e.g., governmental, parental);

(6) fee for contraband or socially-taboo construction blocking (e.g., governmental, parental, religious, etc.);

(7) regulatory costs (e.g., environmental impact/mitigation, thermal pollution credits, content policing, federal mandates enforcement);

(8) federal/state taxes (e.g., sales/use, value-added, property, excise, luxury, inheritance, estate, gift, etc.), State Nanofactory Commission tax, and surcharges for unrelated social purposes;

(9) local taxes (e.g., feedstock fire services, toxic gas mitigation, metering services, low-income subsidies, universal access subsidies, 9-1-1 emergency phone number fees);

(10) federal protective trade and domestic subsidy-support tariffs;

(11) federal economic stabilization surcharges;

(12) fee for regular government-mandated safety inspections, analogous to annual smog inspections commonly required for automobiles;

(13) international surcharge for disadvantaged nations, administrated through United Nations auspices (perhaps imposed as single fee collected at time of sale, or paid as annual international tax);

(14) registration fee for all Pns, analogous to automobile registration fees;

(15) the cost of government mandated insurance for accidents or injuries to others as a result of products manufactured by the PN, similar to the automobile personal injury insurance required in many states; and

(16) miscellaneous other fees and expenses.

[   ]

Full Story >>

Originally published in Nanotechnology Perceptions: A Review of Ultraprecision Engineering and Nanotechnology, Volume 2, No.  2, May 8, 2006. 

Also see Tetrad on Desktop Nano-manufacturing

© 2005-2006

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To arrange for an inhouse presentation on smart technology see here

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page

Essays on Nanotech Impacts

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) today announced the continuation of its first series of original essays in which industry experts predict profound impacts of nanotechnology on society. 

Eleven new articles by members of CRN's Global Task Force appear in the latest issue of the journal Nanotechnology Perceptions, published today, complementing the previous issue's collection.

Covering topics from commerce to criminology, from ethics to economics, and from our remote past to our distant future, this new collection illustrates the profound transformation that nanotechnology will have on every aspect of human society. 

Ray Kurzweil, renowned inventor, entrepreneur, and best-selling author, explained,

"As the pace of technological advancement rapidly accelerates, it becomes increasingly important to promote knowledgeable and insightful discussion of both promise and peril.  I'm very pleased to take part in this effort by including my own essay, and by hosting discussion of these essays on the 'MindX' discussion board at KurzweilAI.net."

Nanotechnology Perceptions is a peer-reviewed academic journal of the Collegium Basilea in Basel, Switzerland. 

"We jumped at the chance to publish the CRN Task Force essays," said Jeremy Ramsden, editor-in-chief of the journal.  "To us, these articles represent world-class thinking about some of the most important challenges that human society will ever face."

In August 2005, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, a non-profit research and advocacy organization, formed its Global Task Force to study the societal implications of molecular manufacturing, an advanced form of nanotechnology.  Bringing together a diverse group of world-class experts from multiple disciplines, CRN is spearheading an historic, collaborative effort to develop comprehensive recommendations for the safe and responsible use of this rapidly emerging technology.

"This outstanding compilation of 22 essays describes some of the major challenges posed by nanotechnology," said Mike Treder, executive director of CRN.  "However, the collection also makes it clear that we have only scratched the surface of the risks, challenges, and opportunities associated with molecular manufacturing." 

Like electricity or computers before it, nanotechnology will bring greatly improved efficiency and productivity in many areas of human endeavor.  In its mature form, known as molecular manufacturing, it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all parts of society.  Personal nanofactories may offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.

However, as a general-purpose technology, molecular manufacturing will be dual-use, meaning that in addition to its civilian applications, it will have military uses as well--making far more powerful weapons and tools of surveillance.  Thus, it represents not only wonderful benefits for humanity, but also grave risks.

"Ongoing work toward molecular manufacturing is advancing rapidly in several fields," said Chris Phoenix, CRN's director of research.  "These 22 essays examine many of the radical changes that molecular manufacturing will bring to society.  We hope this collection challenges our readers as much as it informs them.  Not much time is left to find wise solutions."

Most essays are available for publishing or reprint under Gnu Free Documentation License (GFDL).  The second group of essays are:

1. "Nanoethics and Technological Revolutions: A Pr?cis" - Nick Bostrom

2. "From The Enlightenment to N-Lightenment" - Michael Buerger

3. "What Price Freedom?"  - Robert A. Freitas Jr.*

4. "The (Needed) New Economics of Abundance" - Steve Burgess

5. "Economic Impact of the Personal Nanofactory" - Robert A. Freitas Jr.*

6. "Corporate Cornucopia: Examining the Special Implications of Commercial MNT Development" - Michael Vassar

7. "Molecular Manufacturing and the Developing World: Looking to Nanotechnology for Answers."  - Don Maclurcan

8. "Considering Military and Ethical Implications of Nanofactory-level Nanotechnology" - Brian Wang

9. "Molecular Manufacturing and the Need for Crime Science" - Deborah Osborne

10. "Safer Molecular Manufacturing Through Nanoblocks" - Tom Craver

11. "Are We Guardians, Or Are We Apes Designing Humans?"  - Douglas Mulhall

I'll be posting excerpts of these over the next week or so on the smart economy blog

The essays published in the previous issue of Nanotechnology Perceptions are:

1. "Nanotechnology Dangers and Defenses" - Ray Kurzweil

2. "Molecular Manufacturing: Too Dangerous to Allow?"  - Robert A. Freitas Jr.*

3. "Nano-Guns, Nano-Germs, and Nano-Steel" - Mike Treder

4. "Molecular Manufacturing and 21st Century Policing" - Tom Cowper

5. "The Need For Limits" - Chris Phoenix

6. "Globalization and Open Source Nano Economy" - Giulio Prisco

7. "Cultural Dominants and Differential MNT Uptake" - Damien Broderick

8. "Nanoethics and Human Enhancement" - Patrick Lin & Fritz Allhoff

9. "Strategic Sustainable Brain" - Natasha Vita-More

10. "Is AI Near a Takeoff Point?"  - J. Storrs Hall

11. "Singularities and Nightmares: The Range of Our Futures" - David Brin

* These essays are © Robert A. Freitas Jr., and are not released under GFDL.

© 2005-2006

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To arrange for an inhouse presentation on smart technology see here

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page 

Boost your Smart Technology IQ

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Smart Technology is a tactile subject area and by bringing the audience into physical contact with a wide range of different smart materials and products, our presentation brings to life the subject matter contained in our Smart Economy Blog 

Please contact me for further details.

Walter Derzko  [email protected]

Are you a Victim of Technoism?

Are you a Victim of Technoism? 

This Holiday Assessment was developed by Beverly Davis from Purdue University. Technoism is defined as suppressed skepticism and blind compliance with regards to the technology revolution in our lives.  During the holidays, gift lists most likely include the newest technology gadgets.  How often do you buy just to be in the loop or how often do your children convince you they need the newest technology without assessing the need for the updated technology?  Before buying for the holidays, take the assessment below and find out if you are a victim of Technoism. 

By looking at past behaviors, we can improve on current behaviors so you make good decisions this holiday season. 

Discover if you are a victim of Technoism; see assessment questions below. 

• You purchased it only so your gift recipient can keep up with trends rather than for its utility

• You purchased it even though the gift recipient has never used or never learned how to use the earlier version of the same type of technology to its full intent

• The purchase served as a tool to upgrade current technology the gift recipient already owns

• You purchased it because the gift recipient felt pressured by work, family, or friends to have “one”

• You purchased the technology as an impulse buy and still wonder why and/or regret it (e.g. for children who never use it)

• You purchased technology as gifts for family members and put it in a yard sale within two years of purchase without getting your money’s worth

• You purchased the technology for family members and found they could not understand the instructions and/or got poor customer service, and finally gave up on it

• * *Add one more point for above if you or the gift recipient did not complain to the company

• You or your gift recipient felt a sense of importance and a sense of techno-savvy when purchasing (or using) this technology
• You purchased it, you or your gift recipient never fully used it to its full potential, yet ridiculed others for not having one “yet”
• You purchased this technology because the previous technology of its kind was outdated and/or the gift recipient needed it to function with the older technology he/she owns

• *Add one more point for above if you did not complain to the company about the short life or quality of your purchase

For the full test click here

© 2005

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page

Study shows one smart technology nanobuilding block, alumina or aluminum oxide, could damage plant life

Various research teams from around the world are studying the health and environmental impacts of nanoparticals.

On Oct 4, 2005 we looked at the Environmental footprint for nanomaterial fabrication study which showed that the environmental damage for seven common nanoparticles wasn't any more severe then what we see in common industrial production.

Now,  according to a report by an environmental scientist at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), one of those nanoparticles, alumina or aluminum oxide, could have a damaging effect on plant life.

The report, published in a recent issue of "Toxicology Letters," shows that nanoparticles of alumina (aluminum oxide) slowed the growth of roots in five species of plants -- corn, cucumber, cabbage, carrot and soybean.

Alumina nanoparticles are commonly used in scratch-resistant transparent coatings, sunscreen lotions that provide transparent-UV protection and environmental catalysts that reduce pollution.

Conventional Wisdom:

"Before this study there was an assumption that nanoparticles had no effect on plants," said  the study author.

New Smart Knowledge:

"This study makes the observation that seedlings can interact with nanoparticles such as alumina, which can have a harmful effect on seedlings and perhaps stunt the growth of plants. Other nanoparticles included in the study, such as silica, did not show this effect,"

"We suppose that the surface characteristics of the nanoparticles played an important role in slowing the growth of the roots," speculate researchers.  "The smaller the particle, the larger is the total amount of surface area per unit weight. So the smaller you make the particles, the larger is the surface area, which we suspect is what contributes to the growth-slowing interaction between the seeds and the nanoparticles. The small size of the nanoparticles may be changed by the nanoparticles aggregating or clumping together."

But what is still not understood is the nature of the interaction between the nanoparticle and the root of the seed.

"What is the mechanism of the interaction between the particle and the root? That we don't know as yet,"  admit researchers.

...more reseach work needs to be done here.

© 2005

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

To explore the opportunities and threats of any new smart technology in your industry - Contact Me

.....Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare"

- old Japanese proverb

P. S. if this is your first visit to my blog, please go to our Welcome page

Bioethical issues surrounding emerging technologies up for grabs

The Women's Bioethics Project, a non-partisan, public policy think tank, announced today the release of a report detailing a concerted effort by conservative groups to dominate so-called "bioethical issues" surrounding emerging technologies.

The report, titled "Bioethics and Public Policy: Conservative Dominance in the Current Landscape," analyzes the involvement of both progressive and conservative bioethics centers, including traditional think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute, as well as religious groups such as James Dobson's Focus on the Family.

Problem:

"The rapid advance of biotechnology is quickly outpacing our ability as a society to absorb the effect it will have on our lives," said Kathryn Hinsch, founder of the Women's Bioethics Project and author of the report, "The institutions we have relied on for guidance on difficult moral issues--whether organized religion, government, or the academy – have failed to keep pace with science or societal implications underlying these issues."

Because of this confusion, disarray, and public policy flux, the opportunity to influence the direction of public opinion is up for grabs. Essentially, whoever gets there first will frame the debate on these issues and will affect us all for decades to come.

To date, only extremely conservative and overtly religious groups have devoted substantial resources to pushing a broad bioethics agenda.

"Bioethical issues ranging from stem cell research to the Terri Schiavo case are the battlefield for defining the kind of world we want to create," said Jonathan Moreno, bioethicist and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. "The Women's Bioethics Project analysis is an important wake-up call to people who care about scientific progress and the ability to decide what is right for their own families. The time to engage in these issues is now."

Full details of the report can be found at under "God's Bioethics" at www.womensbioethics.org.

© 2005

Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

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