Nanotechnology Essays - Emerging Technologies, Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology Curtis Shephard Nanotechnology: Immortality or total annihilation? Technology has evolved from ideals once seen as unbelievable to common everyday instruments. Computers that used to occupy an entire room are now the size of notebooks. The human race has always pushed for technological advances working at the most efficient level, perhaps, the molecular level. The developments and progress in artificial intelligence and molecular technology have spawned a new form of technology; Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology could give the human race eternal life, or it could cause total annihilation. The idea of nanotech was conceived by a man named K. Eric Drexler (Stix 94), which he defines as "Technology based on the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules to build structures to complex atomic specifications (Drexler, "Engines" 288)." The technology which Drexler speaks of will be undoubtedly small, in fact, nano- structures will only measure 100 nanometers, or a billionth of a meter (Stix 94). Being as small as they are, nanostructures require fine particles that can only be seen with the STM, or Scanning Tunneling Microscope (Dowie 4). Moreover the STM allows the scientists to not only see things at the molecular level, but it can pick up and move atoms as well (Port 128). Unfortunately the one device that is giving nanoscientists something to work with is also one of the many obstacles restricting the development of nanotech. The STM has been regarded as too big to ever produce nanotech structures (Port 128). Other scientists have stated that the manipulation of atoms, which nanotech relies on, ignores atomic reality. Atoms simply don't fit together in ways which nanotech intends to use them (Garfinkel 105). The problems plaguing the progress of nanotech has raised many questions among the scientific community concerning it's validity. The moving of atoms, the gathering of information, the restrictions of the STM, all restrict nanotech progress. And until these questions are answered, nanotech is regarded as silly (Stix 98). But the nanotech optimists are still out there. They contend that the progress made by a team at IBM who was able to write letters and draw pictures atom by atom actually began the birth of nanotech (Darling 49). These same people answer the scientific questions by replying that a breakthrough is not needed, rather the science gained must be applied (DuCharme 33). In fact, Drexler argues that the machines exist, trends are simply working on building better ones ("Unbounding" 24). Drexler continues by stating that the machines he spoke about in "Engines of Creation" published in 1986 should be developed early in the 21st century ("Unbounding" 116). However many scientists still argue that because nanotech has produced absolutely nothing physical, it should be regarded as science fiction (Garfinkel 111). Secondly, nano-doubters rely on scientific fact to condemn nanotech. For example it is argued that we are very far away from ever seeing nanotech due to the fact that when atoms get warm they have a tendency to bounce around. As a result the bouncing atoms collide with other materials and mess up the entire structure (Davidson A1). Taken in hand with the movement of electron charges, many regard nanotech as impossible (Garfinkel 106). But this is not the entirety of the obstacles confining nanotech development. One major set-back is the fact that the nanostructures are too small to reflect light in a visible way, making them practically invisible (Garfinkel 104). Nevertheless, Nanotech engineers remain hopeful and argue that; "With adequate funding, researchers will soon be able to custom build simple molecules that can store and process information and manipulate or fabricate other molecules, including more of themselves. This may occur before the turn of the century."(Roland 30) There are other developments also, that are pushing nanotech in the right direction for as Lipkin pointed out recent developments have lead to possibilities of computers thinking in 3-D (5). Which is a big step towards the processing of information that nanotech requires. Although there are still unanswered questions from some of the scientific community, researchers believe that they are moving forward and will one day be able to produce nanomachines. One such machine is regarded as a replicator. A replicator, as it's name implies, will replicate; much like the way in which

Compare and Contrast The New World and The General Historie of Virginia

Compare and Contrast The New World and The General Historie of Virginia It was an adventure from the point of view of the foreigners who came from England. They wanted to start a new life away from the chaos, confusion, and poverty of their motherland (Woodward, p.145). They succeeded in finding a new world but what was not yet clear is that if they can have a new life in a new settlement that they would have to build from scratch (O’Sullivan Keuchel, p.7).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The New World and The General Historie of Virginia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this particular study this particular story is re-told in two different ways. These two versions will be compared side-by-side. The first one is an eyewitness account and primary source of the first wave of English settlers and the second one is a film directed by Terence Malick. The plot structure of Smith’s book contrasted sharply with that of Malick’s movie. Smith wanted to show an overview of history as it pertains to the creation of an English settlement in Virginia. The author, Captain John Smith was able to do this by providing detailed description of the reasons for setting sail towards an unknown world, risking their lives for something that they are not entirely sure about (Smith, p.40). The film however, did not waste time explaining the rationale of the voyage from England to Virginia because the plot structure focuses on the New World and its impact on the lives of the Englishmen. With regards to the characters the movie cannot afford to spend so much time providing details regarding the other actors. Thus, the movie failed to develop more round characters and this is understandable because of the limitations of the medium used (The New World, p.1). But in the case of Smith he had the freedom to discuss the members of the crew and what they are like and thus providing the readers enough background information to appreciate the actions of t he characters in the historical account. The film however focused on John Smith and Pocahontas. The book and the film share the same setting – the New World. The author was smitten by the new surroundings. He was like a boy that was given an expensive toy. He could not believe what he saw. Smith had a very realistic view of the New World while the movie version of his character seemed to be a poet allowed to roam free in an enchanted kingdom.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In other words the John Smith that wrote the book had a clear understanding of what has to be done in order to survive in the New World. On the other hand the John Smith in the film seemed to have an overly optimistic view of the natives. In the movie John Smith fell in love not only with Pocahontas but also the land and its people. The book may have suggested that John Smith respected the natives bu t not to the extent that he wanted to be like them. In the movie John Smith expressed his desire to be like them. He did not say it out loud but he expressed it by describing the superiority of their ways in terms of the absence of jealousy and greed. He was amazed at the way the people share everything that they have. The John Smith who wrote the book had a practical view of the land and the people. The author was well aware that the land and the people can swallow him up and his fellow explorers. He did not have the luxury to become culturally sensitive to the New World. His mind was occupied with only one thought and it was the concept of survival. The book was written from the point of view of Captain John Smith and the English settlers. The movie alternates from the point of view of Pocahontas and John Smith. John Smith saw Virginia and the New World from the perspective of an adventurer. He saw the dangers and the excitement but he was unable to fully explore how the natives s aw the strangers that landed on their shore. The main difference between the movie and the book is on how the director was able to show how two groups of people collided in one location. The Englishmen saw it as some sort of a land of promise. The natives saw it as their home and the intruders are forcing their way into a territory that belonged to the natives for hundreds or even thousands of years. The book uses symbolisms of power. The Englishmen were superior to the natives. The Englishmen points to their armor, guns, mirrors, compass and other evidence of technological prowess and use it to judge the power and value of the natives. In the book the English settlers acted as if they were entitled to everything that they thought they need to live a successful and happy life in the settlements that they had created. The movie uses different forms of symbolisms depending on whose point of view was the focus of the scene. If the movie takes the point of view of Pocahontas then the sy mbolism used is the elements that can be found in nature. In the early part of the movie one can see Pocahontas mimicking the gestures of the wild animals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The New World and The General Historie of Virginia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This symbolizes freedom and being one with nature. When John Smith was sent as an envoy he was separated from his team and one of the most poignant moments was when he was alone in a swampy area and he was covered in full body armor. However, he was defeated and captured by those who utilized crude technology. This scene symbolizes the fact that the natives had the advantage because they know how to behave in accordance to natural environment. Although Smith had superior arms he could not move freely in knee-deep water. The theme of the book is the chain of events that led to the discovery and colonization of the New World. The theme of the movie is the clash of two cultures. Pocahontas symbolized the culture of the New World while John Smith epitomized the culture of the foreigners. The theme about the clash of culture did not end there because at the latter part of the movie a co-mingling of identities was achieved. The book had a simple unifying theme and it was just an overview of history from the point of view of the conquerors. Conclusion The book and the movie attempted to tell the story of how Englishmen tried to colonize the New World. The book had a simple approach and it was told from the point of view of a historian and settler. The author described the trials and triumphs of an adventurer forced to leave home to seek fame and fortune abroad. But the film was more complex even if it uses few details regarding the character and setting. It is more complex because it explores the same story from two points of view. O’Sullivan, John Edward Keuchel. American Economic History. New York: Ma rkus Wiener Publishing, 1989. Smith, John. The General Historie of Viriginia. MA: Applewood Books, 1624. The New World. Dir. Terence Malick. Perf. Colin Farrell, Q’orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer. New Line Cinema, 2005. DVD.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Woodward, Grace. Pocahontas. OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1969.

Perception Of Nurses Regarding Self-Harming Patients Literature review

Perception Of Nurses Regarding Self-Harming Patients - Literature review Example The people that have self-harmed them are found to be devoid of the needed sympathy and care from the medical staffs and nurses on being admitted to the emergency units. Nurses tend to avoid them on account of wrong perceptions making them feel more desolate. This in turn again contributes in enhancing his or her self-farming behaviour which sometimes turns out to be fatal culminating to suicide (Cleaver, 2006, p.148-151). The paper would tend to use research based articles tends to focus on the attitudes and attributes of the nurses pertaining to the self-harming patients and also on the process of bring about attitudinal changes in the nurses involved. Further it would also endeavour in using specific statistical techniques relevant to the topic to help enhance the understanding and also cites recommendations pertaining to the issue taken. Cleaver (2006) observes that the act of self-harm constitutes such actions where the person, either a male or a female either tends to position, bruise or burn oneself. In that, the person focuses on injuring his or her own body as a mark of punishment rendered on oneself. This sense of punishment alleviates and culminates to the act of self-harm where the individual feels that such act would help him or her to regain their position in the society. More specifically, the people rendering self-harm tend to suffer from a huge burden of desperation. They, in order to evoke the sense of fear in the minds of others or to reinstate their position tend to act in such forceful manner. Observation shows, that this act of self-harm gains more prevalence pertaining to people in their teenage years and also in adults. Children, though quite rare become the silent victims of self-harm. Again, the phenomenon of self-harm is more noticeable regarding women folk than in men. Men are more prone to acts of suicide than ceasing to causing only self-harm like in women. Thus, owing to the variance reflected in the above cases the nurses working in the emergency units are required to act accordingly to render effective services. Herein, Cleaver (2006) states that some nursing staffs feel the zeal to take to such challenging assignments that includes a large amount of variations. Nursing staffs need to be trained in subjects pertaining to psychoanalytic and risk assessments to effectively function in such traumatic departments. The nurses and palliative care staffs need to understand the potency of the risk associated in dealing with such patients and