TABLE OF CONTENTS In previous chapters, we identified and described integrated technology trends to 2020 in bio/nano/materials/information technology. We then assessed technology applications likely to result from these trends and identified several that appear poised to influence multiple sectors of society. In addition to assessing the technical and implementation feasibility of these TAs, we examined their potential regional and international ramifications. In this chapter, we present conclusions based on our technology foresights and the analysis of capacity to acquire and implement TAs of the 29 representative countries selected for our analysis.
Based on our technical foresights (e.g., see Appendices A through E and related references), we see no indication that the accelerated pace of technology development described in GTR2015 is abating, and neither is the trend toward multidisciplinarity nor the increasingly integrated nature of TAs. Indeed, most of the "top 16" TAs of Table 2.2 involve at least three of the technology areas addressed in this study, and many involve all four, as illustrated in Table 4.1. The continued integration of these technology developments will benefit from the continuing trend toward globally integrated publications media, Internet connectivity, and scientific conferences, as well as the development and cross-fertilization of ever-more-sensitive and selective instrumentation.
| Technology Applications | Bio | Nano | Materials | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap solar energy | x | x | x | |
| Rural wireless communications | x | x | x | |
| Ubiquitous information access | x | x | x | |
| GM crops | x | x | ||
| Rapid bioassays |
