Tomorrow’s Killer App

A nanoelectronics researcher has decoded a radio signal through a semiconducting single-walled nanotube. These nanotubes make up an atom-sized component called the nanotech device. Alex Madrigal, writing for Wired magazine explains that the nanotech device is “a demodulator, [which is] a simple circuit that decodes radio waves and turns them into audio signals.” Peter Burke, a professor at the University of California at Irvine, connected the decoder to two metal wires and transmitted music over an AM radio from an iPod to speakers across the room. So, how is this a killer app*?

Presently, this technology isn’t a killer app, but it certainly has the potential to become one. The continued miniaturization of electronic devices depends on nanoelectronic systems. There are several companies interested in the long-term potential of nanoelectronics applied to the standard semiconductor technologies. Burke writing for the American Chemical Society’s Nano Letters, stated,

“Though we have only demonstrated the critical component of the entire radio system out of a nanotube (the demodulator), it is conceivable in the future that all components could be nanoscale, thus allowing a truly nanoscale wireless communications system.”

In fact, nanotubes have piqued the interest of researchers due to the unique electrical properties arising at the atomic scale. Currently they’re working on a significant number of nanotechnology applications.

The reason this technology hasn’t quite reached killer app status is because of manufacturing problems. Imperfections in atoms can have a serious impact when working at the atomic scale. Burke says, “If one atom is out of place in a regular transistor, it’s not a big deal; if one atom is out of place in the nanotube, it has a big impact on the electronic properties.” This means it’s nearly impossible to manufacture identical components consistently. Currently, the big unsolved problems in nanotechnology are cost and manufacturability.

Nanoelectronics is potentially a killer app. In keeping with the information presented in this module, the recognition of this technology is worth exploration. Moore’s Law actually requires the discovery of nanotechnologies, and its future commercialization will no doubt result in significantly improving existing technology. The extent to which it disrupts the industry it’s applied to, will determine its strength as a killer app.

*A “killer app” (short for “killer application”) is a completely new good or service; something so unique it disrupts the status quo and, at least for a time, becomes the new industry standard.