After describing the state-of-the-art and future expectations in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive technologies, this report describes the future of applications of converging technologies in three selected cases where converging technologies might apply: monitoring and immediate action, forensic research, and profiling and identification.
Nanotechnology is a generic term that refers to technologies that operate with entitities, materials, and systems where at least one characteristic is size dimension between 1 and 100 nm. A key feature is the occurrence of specific properties because of the nanoscale. Biotechnology is based on biology and refers to the whole range of methods for manipulating organic matter to meet human needs. Many of today's biotechnology applications have a medical or therapeutic focus. Information technology encompasses all the technologies related to the logical and physical definition, design, and implementation of systems and applications for data acquisition, storage, processing, transmission, and management. For the purposes of this study, the most relevant aspects of cognitive sciences are the study of structure, functions, and processes that define, implement, or describe the perception and interpretation of stimuli, decisionmaking, and the experiencing of mental states. Since all four of the fields are multidisciplinary within their own spheres, convergence is a process and not a property of this collection of technologies. The process leads to new paradigms in applications areas. This article discusses how these technologies can converge in the monitoring and surveillance of objects or persons, as well as remote intervention in case of undesired movements and relocations (immediate action). A second case of applied convergence involves improving and developing forensic trace analysis (forensic research). A third case that illustrates the convergence of the technologies is in profiling, identifying, and observing persons with an assumed security risk (profiling and identification). 2 figures