... "In the labs today, people are discovering how to fabricate new nanometer-scale structures for regenerative medicine," he said. Eigler believes that this technology could blossom over the next 10 to 15 years and that it eventually will result in pharmacies built into the human body that automatically administer medicines based on readings from internal sensors.

He also discussed parallel human processing. The idea is that a person could think about two problems at once consciously. This capability could be realized through training or symbiant embedded devices.

"This kind of human augmentation raises some immediate concerns, but it is a trend we are living with," Eigler said, pointing to pacemakers, cochlear implants, and even Bluetooth ear pieces. "It's a personal responsibility to use technology wisely. The challenge comes when we, as a society, struggle with what technology to outlaw or keep."  Read More...