Meeting notice: 2-03-98 7:30 NE43-773 (545 Tech Sq.) Suggested topic: Ellenbogen's speculation. James Ellenbogen of Mitre has suggested that preceding the stage of "pure" nanoelectronics, we will pass through one in which nanometer-scale quantum-effect devices will be introduced as subcomponents embedded in microelectronic chips. He writes: Design studies show that this should greatly increase the density and flexibility of conventional digital logic. Fabrication work toward this "hybrid" approach is ongoing in the research community. If it continues to be successful, it could accelerate the arrival of commercially useful quantum-effect, nanoelectronics. Some experts believe this could make a form of nanoelectronics available for applications as early as the year 2005. It has long been an article of faith that however many paths to nanotechnology there might be conceptually the one that matters is the one with the smoothest distribution of payoff points scattered along its development path (which is not necessarily the same as the one with the largest aggregate payoff). This argument is sometimes used to advance the point that enzyme design should be much higher on our watch list than most of the other topics that make up the field. However, if Ellebogen is right, hybrid nanoelectronics would represent another path to NT with the desired character of providing regular paydays. Those wishing to evaluate Ellenbogen's argument might begin with a visit to his valuable nanoelectronics page at www.mitre.org/technology/nanotech. Notes: Comprehensive new report on NT available at www.oxfordnano.com. Quantum electronics (wires, dots, superpositioning), scanning probe microscopy, nanotribology, nanocrystals, thin films, fullerenes, supramolecular chemistry, atom lithography, atom lasers, networks, funding, players, etc. The results of a worldwide evaluation study on nanotechnology will be presented on Tuesday, February 10, 9 am - 5 pm, 1998, at the Rosslyn Westpark Hotel (Holiday Inn). Cosponsored by NSF, NIH, ONR, NASA, NIST, DOE, AFOSR, and DOC. Two reference volumes will be available at the workshop. No registration fee. Basic information (including registration details) at http://itri.loyola.edu/nano/workshop.htm. Archive of previous meeting announcements: world.std.com/~fhapgood/nsgpage.html. hapgood@pobox.com