Preface
xiv
there, but not necessarily an understanding of how these materials
and technologies might be used to address real societal needs or,
more simply, to provide a basis for useful applications—a situation
often best described by the classic phrase “a technology looking for
an application.” Relatively few applications in architecture and
product design exist at this point, so there are few role models or
case studies to explore. Still, the core belief reflected in this book
is that nanomaterials and nanotechnologies do offer new ways of
addressing many current needs as well as providing the basis for a
positive vision for future developments. The book explores these
kinds of forward-looking potential applications.
The field is clearly in an emerging state, but its potential is evident.
The question is one of how to move forward. The position reflected
in this book is that this can only be accomplished by designers,
engineers, and material scientists working together. Yet simply suggesting that these groups “collaborate” is usually ineffective. There
needs to be a common basis for communication and idea exchange.
The language of understanding spoken by one group can be foreign
to the other. Within this context, a primary goal of this book is to
provide both a common ground and a common language for better
understanding how to use nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
effectively. It seeks to convey the necessary technical understanding
of the essential ideas underlying these new materials and technologies to designers so that they might better be able to understand
how to exploit their characteristics effectively within a design
context. At the same time it seeks to introduce material scientists
and engineers knowledgeable about nanomaterials to design issues
and design processes. What design problems need to be solved, and
how do designers think about solving them? Only with this mutual
understanding can they effectively become engaged in developing
meaningful applications.
To meet these aspirations, the scope of the book is inherently large,
seeking to explore what nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are
and how they might be applied in diverse industries. However,
though the scope is large, the approach followed in this book is
based on the well-explored premise that most effective design
applications occur when there is a true in-depth understanding of
the materials or technologies involved and not when an overly
simplified approach is taken wherein discussions of technological
issues are reduced to an almost meaningless state.
The book has many unique features. It summarizes discussions of
many different ideas and technologies normally found distributed
xiv
there, but not necessarily an understanding of how these materials
and technologies might be used to address real societal needs or,
more simply, to provide a basis for useful applications—a situation
often best described by the classic phrase “a technology looking for
an application.” Relatively few applications in architecture and
product design exist at this point, so there are few role models or
case studies to explore. Still, the core belief reflected in this book
is that nanomaterials and nanotechnologies do offer new ways of
addressing many current needs as well as providing the basis for a
positive vision for future developments. The book explores these
kinds of forward-looking potential applications.
The field is clearly in an emerging state, but its potential is evident.
The question is one of how to move forward. The position reflected
in this book is that this can only be accomplished by designers,
engineers, and material scientists working together. Yet simply suggesting that these groups “collaborate” is usually ineffective. There
needs to be a common basis for communication and idea exchange.
The language of understanding spoken by one group can be foreign
to the other. Within this context, a primary goal of this book is to
provide both a common ground and a common language for better
understanding how to use nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
effectively. It seeks to convey the necessary technical understanding
of the essential ideas underlying these new materials and technologies to designers so that they might better be able to understand
how to exploit their characteristics effectively within a design
context. At the same time it seeks to introduce material scientists
and engineers knowledgeable about nanomaterials to design issues
and design processes. What design problems need to be solved, and
how do designers think about solving them? Only with this mutual
understanding can they effectively become engaged in developing
meaningful applications.
To meet these aspirations, the scope of the book is inherently large,
seeking to explore what nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are
and how they might be applied in diverse industries. However,
though the scope is large, the approach followed in this book is
based on the well-explored premise that most effective design
applications occur when there is a true in-depth understanding of
the materials or technologies involved and not when an overly
simplified approach is taken wherein discussions of technological
issues are reduced to an almost meaningless state.
The book has many unique features. It summarizes discussions of
many different ideas and technologies normally found distributed