Understanding nanotechnology A Bridge to the Future

by Deborah Sauder

Nanotechnology is radically altering the world in ways almost unimaginable in only the very recent past. With applications in arenas from medicine and science to warfare and even the world of sports, nanotechnology opens the doorway to a vast array of breathtaking possibilities. In this series of clearly articulated lectures, Professor Deborah Gibbs Sauder explores the world of nanotechnology and all its astounding applications, while also examining the ethical issues raised by the science and the impact nanotechnology is having on big business.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Technology, Audiobook

Audio CD

Reviews

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Professor Sauder is highly knowledgeable and does a great job summarizing the current state of the science of nanotechnology. She did a great job making the topic accessible to the layman and the novice.

Like other reviewers, I was disappointed in the delivery and presentation of the material. For an audiobook, the presentation is very important. It would have been much better if a professional narrator had read the material as opposed to the author doing it herself.

I gave this a two-star rating because of the problems with the narration and presentation. However, as I mentioned above, the content itself was great.

I'm working my way through some other "Modern Scholar" material. I'm hopeful that the narration and presentation issues are not the same throughout.

[Dani Pongratz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration was inconsistent, but the topics were nicely explained and capturing enough!

[Moira-ji]

this course is based on a class developed as a physical science class for non science majors, by a chemist experienced in pedagogy. and really, what a great elective. deborah sauder explains things clearly and simply, including things i didn't even realize i only had a basic hazy idea of before. and she didn't gloss over what many people gloss over when discussing nanotechnology- how can you see nanomachines /nanodots/ etc? and how can you make something that you may not be able to see? i am so tired of people not explaining that aspect of nanotechnology, and i'm glad she took so much time to go over that in detail, which enabled me to better grasp all the nuances of everything that came after.

[Aaron Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short audible intro to Nanotech. The included PDF was super helpful, and the material easy to get through for an Engineer even in audio format. The only downside was the narration was robotic and had a lot of awkward strange pauses and stutters. Unsure what gives there.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemingly interesting topic is rendered deadly boring partially by the intrusion of reality, and partially by the author's robotic delivery. As a course, it would have benefited hugely from some discussion of nanotechnology in popular culture, especially science fiction. I understand that the author probably didn't want to "cheapen" a serious chemical engineering topic with sci fi bullshit, but that's exactly why this course is so dull.

Unfortunately, while some of the science is interesting and illuminating, there are problems. The basics of nanotech engineering as described by the author are, unfortunately, internally contradictory. For instance, "In order to work with nanoscale materials, you need to have nanoscale tools. Here's how you create a nanoscale probe: [INSERT COMPLICATED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY PROCESS HERE]. Then you just break it off, and..." Wait, WTF? How do you break it off? I understand there are ways and methods and stuff that they do and stuff, but the point is that the highly detailed process is then shorthanded in a way that makes the whole thing incomplete.

Worse, that very complex description of how nanoprobes etc. are created in order to be able to work with nanoscale materials is then NEVER directly connected to how nanoscale materials are created. The lecturer just sort of talks around a variety of nanoscale chemistry developments that, while technically nanotechnology, are hardly the "nanites" that makes nanotechnology a sexy concept. It basically ends up being something akin to atomic chemistry.

Which is interesting... but I didn't need a 14-part lecture series on it. Especially when the lectures are delivered in a voice that could have come from nanobots.

I wanted to like this course, I really did. I just couldn't and can't. I feel like I didn't learn very much and it was an ordeal to do so. Sorry, Professor.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to CD courses while driving has the inevitable effect of my missing key details when distracted by traffic. But this is one course I can re-listen to and enjoy each time. The impact of nanotechnology on our every-day lives is presented so the lay-person can understand it. Saucer's ability to present concepts such as size comparisons of molecular structures, quantum physics, chemistry, and current ways to see at the nano level and to then build at the nano level is important to the non-scientist listener. I have a new appreciation of how nano technology is influencing modern life and what potential there is for the future. Very cool.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overall discussion for the non-scientist.

[BLACK CAT · Rating 1 out of 5]

MANY POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS.
BASIC EXPLANATIONS OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS.

[Stefan Persson · Rating 1 out of 5]

such interesting subject....such a boring dwelling on details that certainly relates nanotechnology but just killed the presentation.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to nanotechnology and some of the upcoming innovations that may come from it.