There is an unbalanced excitement revolving around nanotech, with an incredible surge of interest in the field. A large number of wealthy countries, NGOs, and scientists are pursuing the nanotech field intensely. There has also been interest from technophiles who herald this potential development as a step towards a utopian society, and endless life. Considering the above interest, it must therefore be disturbing that the average citizen has never even heard of the word "nanotechnology", let alone the massive impact it will have on their every day life.
Gratefully, along with the emergence of potentially world altering technologies, reasoned voices have emerged, especially Bill Joy (co-founder of Sun Microsystems), the University of Toronto Joint Center for Bioethics (particularly the report "Mind the Gap"), and K. Eric Drexler, who's faith in the ability of these new technologies led to the development of the Foresight Institute. These people recognize the potential impacts of these technologies, and are expressing their concerns over the need for policy enactments to deal with the issues that will arise over the next century and beyond. They also recognize now, that scientific research "because we can", must no longer be unquestioningly accepted in this advanced and volatile world.
Whilst some, particularly Luddites, believe that technologies of the nanotech nature are inherently evil, it is likely that more rational observers feel that controls and policies should be set in place early to deal with the problems which may arise from the technology. In other words policies that are proactive rather than reactive. This realization to prompt action by governments and policy makers, requires an acceptance that technology as a whole is developing faster than policy and social considerations. Republican Brad Sherman (California) attempted an amendment of the current House nanotechnology bill (HR766) asking for 5% of funding towards nanotech to be put away for attention to issues of economic, social, and political impact.
