TABLE OF CONTENTS We live in an era of increasing use of diverse technologies in all aspects of life, from ingestible radio transmitters and fluorescent quantum dots for medical diagnosis and treatment, to multifunctional cell phones that take digital photographs and receive and transmit electronic mail. In a previous study, [3] we concluded that the world is undergoing a global technology revolution that is integrating developments in biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials technology, and information technology at an accelerating pace. Based on several parallel analyses of the state of globally important technology trends and how they are being constructed into specific applications (reviewed in Appendices A through F), we conclude in this report that the technology of 2020 will continue to integrate developments from multiple scientific disciplines in a "convergence" that will have profound effects on society. Examples of some of the integrated technology applications (TAs) that may be feasible by 2020 include:
Personalized medicine and therapies
Genetic modification of insects to control pests and disease vectors
Computational (or "in-silico") drug discovery and testing
Targeted drug delivery through molecular recognition
Biomimetic and function-restoring implants
Rapid bioassays using bionanotechnologies
Embedded sensors and computational devices in commercial goods
Nanostructured materials with enhanced properties
Small and efficient portable power systems
Mass-producible organic electronics, including solar cells
Smart fabrics and textiles
Pervasive undetectable cameras and sophisticated sensor networks
Large, searchable databases containing detailed personal and medical data
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking of commercial products and individuals
Widespread bundled information and communications technologies, including wireless Internet connectivity
