For so many decades now we have had the word “revolution” linked to all things technological. We have even started refering to the “first revolution” and the “second revolution” of some advance in science. It is of course, not a matter of the current journalistic style it is simply that we are all amazed at what is happening in the world of science and in particular, technology. What is new and “mind boggling” today is soon accepted as nothing new and is almost immediately replaced by some other revolutionary discovery.
A book therefore that aims to introduce its readers to microelectronics and nanotechnologies is obviously going to date very rapidly. It would appear that only recently, we were amazed to read about what became the microcomputer only to discover announcements – about “the smallest computers that are only a little bigger than a speck of dust”. Called “smart dust” it defeats not only our imagination but also any author who wants to describe what is called a revolution in nano‐technology and microelectronics.
The author of this text is honest enough to tackle his subject as an historical piece so that a “revolution” of some 60 years ago which began with the invention of the silicon transistor can be seen as the beginning of a life‐changing technology.
This book, however, does more than present an historical record it describes the science behind what are still seen as poorly explained fields. He also tackles the task of describing some of the products that eminate from micro‐ and nano‐technologies. He does this in such a way that most readers will be able to understand the role of these new technologies in developing such devices and systems.
A readable book which provides a good introduction to this exciting area of discovery and application.
