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ingly high, often seemingly outrageously so. Even the mere suggestion that a new material or technology is employed can improve
sales. Many nano-based products are already finding their way into
sporting goods and are expected to continue to do so. Conversely,
low-value products do not commonly enjoy the same advantages
and rarely provide a setting for extensive research and development
efforts that might employ new nano-based materials or technologies. The nano-based paper clip will probably not be available for
some time.
general product Complexity and performance
Products can somewhat simplistically be thought of in terms of
varying degrees of complexity and performance levels. At the lowest
level, products are near raw materials and provide only a few basic
benefits. Many are low-value, inexpensive product forms that can
be used in bulk to make other, more sophisticated products. Simple
product forms such as films or sheets can be dramatically increased
in value if they are engineered or processed to have particularly
useful specific qualities that are fundamental to the performance
of other products. This would be the case with many nano-based
films, paints, or sealants as well as some other bulk forms of basic
metal, polymeric, or ceramic nanocomposites. Many of these
simple-appearing product forms that can be used to impart particular functionalities to other products may in themselves be quite
technically sophisticated and complex internally, such as dichroic
films, and be of very high value. In all cases, product forms appear
relatively simple but vary in levels of technological sophistication,
benefits, and relative value.
To go to the other end of the value spectrum, at the highest end
are finely tuned, technologically sophisticated products that provide
multiple sets of controllable, specialized high-performance functions and typically involve complex electromechanical components. Extensive use of nanotechnologies are expected here.
At varying levels on the spectrum, we find also items that are lowvalue products and of low complexity, such as common dishware,
or relatively low-value products that serve only limited and relatively low-value functions that nonetheless have electromechanical
components, such as lawnmowers and many other items. There are
also high-value products not involving any kind of electronic controls, which are designed to provide the very best performance
available regardless of cost, such as clubs for professional golfers
(or wannabe professionals).
Product Design, Architecture, and Engineering
ingly high, often seemingly outrageously so. Even the mere suggestion that a new material or technology is employed can improve
sales. Many nano-based products are already finding their way into
sporting goods and are expected to continue to do so. Conversely,
low-value products do not commonly enjoy the same advantages
and rarely provide a setting for extensive research and development
efforts that might employ new nano-based materials or technologies. The nano-based paper clip will probably not be available for
some time.
general product Complexity and performance
Products can somewhat simplistically be thought of in terms of
varying degrees of complexity and performance levels. At the lowest
level, products are near raw materials and provide only a few basic
benefits. Many are low-value, inexpensive product forms that can
be used in bulk to make other, more sophisticated products. Simple
product forms such as films or sheets can be dramatically increased
in value if they are engineered or processed to have particularly
useful specific qualities that are fundamental to the performance
of other products. This would be the case with many nano-based
films, paints, or sealants as well as some other bulk forms of basic
metal, polymeric, or ceramic nanocomposites. Many of these
simple-appearing product forms that can be used to impart particular functionalities to other products may in themselves be quite
technically sophisticated and complex internally, such as dichroic
films, and be of very high value. In all cases, product forms appear
relatively simple but vary in levels of technological sophistication,
benefits, and relative value.
To go to the other end of the value spectrum, at the highest end
are finely tuned, technologically sophisticated products that provide
multiple sets of controllable, specialized high-performance functions and typically involve complex electromechanical components. Extensive use of nanotechnologies are expected here.
At varying levels on the spectrum, we find also items that are lowvalue products and of low complexity, such as common dishware,
or relatively low-value products that serve only limited and relatively low-value functions that nonetheless have electromechanical
components, such as lawnmowers and many other items. There are
also high-value products not involving any kind of electronic controls, which are designed to provide the very best performance
available regardless of cost, such as clubs for professional golfers
(or wannabe professionals).
Product Design, Architecture, and Engineering