ISO Focus - April 2007

Nanotechnologies

ISO Focus, April 2007

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Nanotechnologies is an exciting new field that has potential applications in many sectors including energy, agriculture, electronics, medical devices and optics. The portfolio of articles in the April issue of ISO Focus provides an overview of standardization work in this field from the leading experts in the fields of metrology, medicine, law, insurance, economics and science. The work of ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies, chaired by Dr. Peter Hatto of the United Kingdom, is profiled along with contributions from experts in various regions who give a brief overview of the developments in their countries.

Dr. Mihail Roco, of the National Science Foundation in the United States, and key architect of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, provides his personal views on the benefits of nanotechnologies and how standardization can contribute to research through measurement of various properties like chemical, mechanical and biological, as well as properties such as magnetic behaviour and temperature.

Nanotechnologies require the integration of many scientific, engineering and technical disciplines and ISO with its international networks can help facilitate the standardization work in these various fields. Standardization will also be important in defining terminology and how experts from different disciplines interact. Governance will also be an important aspect in the development of nanotechnologies and Dr. Roco addresses this issue as well as the framework for stakeholder involvement.

This issue provides readers with an overview on the issues from a number of perspectives looking at the technologies, applications, scientific research, as well as the social, economic and legal aspects. A number of articles point to the economic benefits nanotechnologies can provide, as well as helping developing countries in areas like water purification.

Comment

Peter Hatto, Chairman of ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies, and Director of Research, IonBond Ltd
Nanotechnologies

Guest View

Mihail C. Roco
Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology, US National Science Foundation (NSF)

"All natural manmade products and living systems have a nanostructure."

Main Focus  

Nanotechnologies

• Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes
• Occupational health
• Medical opportunities
• Food, agriculture and the environment
• Legal aspects
• Insurance industry view
• A terminology and nomenclature
• Maintaining Moore’s law
• Confronting global challenges
• An NGO view
• An economist’s view
• Ethical, legal and societal issues
• Imaging and analysis at the nanoscale
• Round-up of regional and national developments

Developments and initiatives

The Fully Networked Car

Following up on our March issue on the intelligent car and intelligent transport systems, the April issue of ISO Focus features a report on the Workshop and Exhibition on ICT in motor vehicles sponsored by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The workshop demonstrated the importance of standards to vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and emissions reduction and the importance of standards to transport systems.

Rapidly evolving technology as well as an increasing public interest for the safety and environmental performance of road transport provides a continuous momentum for the hundreds of standards elaborated by ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles and ISO/TC 204, Intelligent transport systems encompassing standardization of information, communication and control systems in urban and rural surface transportation, traffic management, public transport, and commercial transport and emergency services.

ITS is a global market and the ability for suppliers to build and distribute consistent products worldwide is a significant market stimulus. Find out all about the latest developments on wireless interfaces, including mobile use of the internet and how ITS systems for both safety and convenience on the report on the Fully Networked Car.

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