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TECHNOLOGY

Britannica Illustrated Science Library

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Britannica Illustrated
Science Library

© 2008 Editorial Sol 90

All rights reserved.

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registered trademarks of Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Britannica Illustrated Science Library Staff Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Editorial Jacob E. Safra, Chairman of the Board

Michael Levy, Executive Editor, Core Editorial
John Rafferty, Associate Editor, Earth Sciences Jorge Aguilar-Cauz, President
William L. Hosch, Associate Editor, Mathematics and
Computers Michael Ross, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
Kara Rogers, Associate Editor, Life Sciences
Rob Curley, Senior Editor, Science and Technology Dale H. Hoiberg, Senior Vice President and Editor
David Hayes, Special Projects Editor
Marsha Mackenzie, Director of Production
Art and Composition
Steven N. Kapusta, Director
Carol A. Gaines, Composition Supervisor
Christine McCabe, Senior Illustrator
International Standard Book Number (set):
Media Acquisition 978-1-59339-797-5
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978-1-59339-812-5
Copy Department Britannica Illustrated Science Library: Technology 2008
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Marilyn L. Barton

Manufacturing
Kim Gerber, Director www.britannica.com
Technology
Contents

Daily-Life
Applications
Page 6

Breakthrough
Inventions
Page 28

Science
and Health
Page 52

Cutting-Edge
Technology
Page 68

An Endless
NANOROBOT
Microscopic device that is formed
by arms scarcely 10 nanometers in
length. In the photograph, it is
shown transporting a drug through
the interior of an infected cell.
Inventiveness
M
any animal species use tools, and some,
such as crows and apes, can even create
them. But only our species has taken this
ability to such an extreme that it can be said that
we maintain an evolutionary symbiosis with these
tools. In other words, our ability to develop
complex tools increased our intelligence, allowing
us to manufacture even more complex tools. This,
in turn, launched a new phase in this cycle, and
after several million years it finally led to the
modern human, who continues to develop tools
that will likely continue to transform the species.
Of course, this history has not always followed a
linear path. In the 9,000 years since humans
discovered agriculture and cattle farming, many
inventions were discovered many times and
forgotten nearly as many times. Today we are
surprised to learn that the Romans knew about
concrete and that they had taxis and hamburger
stands or that the Greeks developed the basic
principles of the locomotive and the steam engine
(although, oddly enough, they never combined the
two to invent the railroad). We have developed
the most absurd theories to explain the
construction of the pyramids in Egypt or the moai
of Easter Island. This winding history, with steps
forward and steps backward, can be explained
thus: technical inventions are a specific response
to the specific needs of a given human group, and
when these needs or the people who needed to
meet those needs disappear or change, the
inventions associated with them also disappear or
change.
A
few centuries ago, the creative ability of
human beings took a major leap forward
when tools associated with craft and
empirical techniques began to complement
science, thus systematizing the methods of
production. This is how modern technology
emerged, allowing improved preservation not just
of know-how but also of the economic, social, and
cultural aspects involving this know-how. Once
tool making ceased to be something that was
passed on from master craftsman to apprentice
and became an organized set of procedures and
knowledge accessible to a specialized community,
the human ability to invent new tools underwent
an explosion similar to the one it experienced
9,000 years earlier. Virtually overnight thousands
of objects appeared (and would continue to
appear) that changed our way of seeing and
understanding the world—the clock, which
allowed us to divide time and set a new pace for
our lives; the printing press, which allowed
knowledge to be spread beyond a privileged few;
the refrigerator, which enriched and diversified
our nutrition practices; the cinema, which opened
up the possibility of dreaming while awake; the
Internet, which erased borders and distances; and
robotics and artificial intelligence, which led us to
question our definition of being human. With the
emergence of technology, you could say that our
lives are surrounded by marvelous objects.
T
his book takes us on a journey through
some of the inventions that have changed
our everyday habits and our understanding
of the world that surrounds us. It is not meant to
provide a thorough or definitive view. The creative
abilities of human beings will always make such a
task incomplete. Here we look at the
revolutionary technologies that mark milestones
in the development of technology. We also
examine inventions that have become so essential
in our daily lives that it is difficult to imagine the
way the world was prior to their existence. We
look at technologies that have lengthened our life
expectancy and improved our health. We also
explore inventions that are just now beginning to
show their potential and are opening up worlds
that not even the most imaginative science-fiction
authors could have foreseen. It is surprising to see
the degree to which many of these technologies
are related, like a rich tapestry of invention and
creativity that make us grow as a species, expand
our culture, satisfy our needs, and shape us as a
society.
Daily-Life Applications
LIVE TV THE iPOD 8-9 NINTENDO WII 16-17 SCANNERS 24-25
Thanks to television we can
watch events as they happen, LCDs 10-11 THE DIGITAL CAMERA 18-19 ATHLETIC SHOES 26-27
like this girl who is watching
the liftoff of Soyuz 9 in 1975. 3-D MOVIES 12-13 VIDEO 20-21

THE DVD 14-15 MICROWAVES 22-23

T
echnology has been an
integral part of our daily lives
for several decades now,
drastically affecting us in
many positive ways. Liquid
crystal displays (LCD) form a part of a
plethora of industrial and consumer
appliances, such as automated teller
machines, home appliances, television
equipment, and computers. The
scanner, calculator, and fax
revolutionized the worlds of work and
study, and photography, the DVD, and
the camcorder allowed us to stop time
and save unique moments forever. Our
daily lives are altered by technology. We
see it wherever we look; it offers us the
things we have always sought: comfort,
entertainment, and the tools to make our
daily tasks easier.
8 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 9

The iPod Complexity in a Small Container

The interior of a 2 GB iPod Nano illustrates the
complexity of this multimedia player. Chips,
circuits, plates, ports, and even a thin liquid crystal
display fit into a space only 3.5 x 1.5 inches (9 x 4 cm).

T
his fifth-generation, sophisticated multimedia
player, introduced by Apple in 2001, currently lets Main plate LCD-TFT screen (in this 1.5 inch [3.8 cm] model)
users store and play up to 80 GB of music, video, and Back Dimensions in inches (cm)
images, encoded in many formats; it also allows them to cover

transfer information from both Mac and PC computers. Speaker

The iPod can download new files from iTunes, an

3.5 (8.89)
exchange software developed by Apple. This software
serves as a complex data manager, allowing customers
to purchase files from a library of more than 3 million 0.2 1.5
songs and 3,000 videos. (0.6) (4.06)

Endless Entertainment
One of the most notable features of a size slightly larger than the palm of a Battery
the attractively designed iPod is its person's hand, users can store up to 80
ability to store high-fidelity recordings. In GB of data.
Flash
memory
Music
The iPod can store more
than 20,000 songs in its
80 GB version (and up
to 7,000 songs in its 30 5 GB
iPod Control panel, called
GB version). a Click Wheel
Controller (a
copyright of Apple)
4 inches (10.4 cm)

Video
The 80 GB version can
store and play more
than 100 hours of video Data- Earphone Cover
entry port jack
in various file formats.

Games Images Contacts Each time the iPod connects with a computer, it uses its address book
and its calendar, one of its most useful applications.
The iPod comes with Stores more than 25,000
four games, but it is images. Plugged into a
possible to download a home theater system, it can
large number of games display the images with FOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS
from iTunes. musical accompaniment on
The partnership between Apple and Nike resulted in an iPod that an exercise regimen, even as it monitors performance variables,
a large screen.
provides the athlete with preprogrammed music to accompany such as pace, speed, distance covered, and calories burned.
2.4 inches (6.1 cm)

A sensor is placed The iPod Nano is While enjoying music

Evolution 1
on the left shoe to
2
connected to a
3
chosen for its beat,
Since its launch in 2001, the iPod has become smaller, lighter, and more efficient. It first model. The iPod spawned a flourishing business in accessories, and it has become a collect data during wireless receiver. The the user receives a
now has a color screen, and its maximum storage capacity is 16 times greater than the symbol of an entire generation. Today it is the most popular portable multimedia player. the physical iPod receives the performance report,
activity. data gathered and which is stored in the
sent by the sensor. iPod for reference.

2001 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2007 Sensor

Original iPod Mini iPod U2 iPod iPod Nano iPod Shuffle 5G iPod iPod Touch
The first version of the Up to 6 GB This model was launched in The successor of the iPod mini. The smallest model, it Holds up to 80 GB; A touch screen in full Receiver
iPod held 5 GB of capacity. partnership with the band Smaller and lighter, with a weighs only 0.5 ounce (15 2.5-inch (6.3-cm) color with access to
information. Discontinued. U2 and Universal Music Group. color screen. Holds up to 8 GB. g) and has no screen. color screen. YouTube
10 DAILY-LIFE
10 C1 APPLICATIONS
APLICACIONES EN LA VIDA COTIDIANA ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECHNOLOGY
TECNOLOGÍA 11

Pantallas
LCDs de LCD LA IMAGEN
THE
is
Está
each
IMAGE
formed
cada pixel
by hundreds
formada
píxel es
of de
por cientos
is controlled
thousands
miles de of
bylathe
definido por
points
puntos
combined del
combinación
deofluzlight
brightness
calledpíxels.
llamados
brillo deof
pixels.ElThe
thesubpíxels
tres
color
color
red, blue,(rojo,
y laand
and azul
green
intensity
intensidad
subpixels.
y verde).
deof

LT
ahemisma
technology used que
tecnología in thesedisplays
utiliza enoflas
small cell phones
pequeñas and laptops
pantallas is based yonlasthe
de los celulares use of
laptop,
The colordeofcada
El color eachpíxel
pixeldepende
depends
delupon
brillothe
quebrightness of each
aporta cada subpixel.
subpíxel, los extremos son:
liquid crystals—a discovery dating back to the 19th century. This technology
basada en el uso del cristal líquido –un descubrimiento del siglo XIX-, llegó a los aparatos has been
applied
de TV y to
ya television
produjo unasets, causing aenrevolution
revolución cuanto alintamaño
terms yoflasize and image
calidad de la imagen. + + = The mixture
La mezcla
three
deof
subpixels
subpíxels
losthe
en su at
tres ++ + + == If Si
thelos
three
tres subpixels
aresubpíxels
dimmedse
quality.
Los nuevosLCDtelevisores
televisionsdeareLCD,
flatter and lighter
además, son más than conventional
chatos y livianossets
que los maximum brightness
máximo brillo resulta apagan resultan
completely, the pixel
and need less power
convencionales, y mástoeficientes
operate. y económicos en cuanto en luz blanca.
produces white light. en un píxel
becomes negro.
black.

al consumo de energía eléctrica

El camino
The dethe
Path of la luz
Light
En el interior
Inside an LCDde una pantalla
screen, de LCD
white light la luz blanca
is turned es
into a TV permite orientarlos
environmental de acuerdo
point of view, con instrucciones
LCD screens emit almostprecisas.
no Desde el
convertida
image with en
theuna
helpimagen de TV con
of polarizers, la ayuda de
microscopic polarizadores,electromagnetic
crystals, punto de vista medioambiental,
radiation, and theirapenas
energyemiten ondas electromagné-
consumption can
cristales
and colormicroscópicos
filters. Much of y filtros de color.
the process Gran parte
depends del proceso
on technology be lessticas y su
than 60consumo
percent esof menor quecathode-ray
what the el de los televisores
tube of de
a tubo de
depende
that del the
orients manejo
lightderays
los in
rayos de luz manner.
a precise con una From
tecnología
an que rayos catódicos;
conventional el set
television ahorro de energía puede llegar hasta un 40%.
requires.

LA PANTALLA
INSIDE THE
Fuente
1 Source Primer
2 First polarizador
polarizer 33 Transistor
Thin-film de
SCREEN
POR DENTRO transistor
Película (TFT)
Fina (TFT)
Emite white
sends luz blanca,
light,cuyas ondas
the waves “Ordena” the
arranges la luz blanca en
white Píxel
Pixel
naturalmente
of se dispersan
which naturally disperseenin una serie
light de rayos
in a series of Una fina
A thin capa
film of de cristal,
crystal,
LED BULBS
BULBOS LED todas
all las direcciones.
directions. verticales.
vertical rays. tapizada
covered indemicroscopic
transistores
State-of-the-art
En las pantallas de microscópicos actúaacts
transistors, which de
screens
última use diodes,
generación se acuerdo
accordingcontolathe
señal
TV de TV
signal,
which emit red, ysending
envía las "instrucciones"
instructions for
utilizan
green,
de
que,
diodos
andverde
luz roja,
Together
form
juntos,these
a
emisores
blue light.
forman
powerful
y azul
colors
una
de posicionamiento
crystal positioning. a los
cristales.
108
Size in inches
potente fuente de luz Pulgadas mideofla
white light
blanca, that
en reemplazo de thede
TV largest LCD TV
LCD más
replaces
los traditional
tubos fluorescentes screen in
grande delthe
mundo.
Subpixels
Subpíxels
fluorescent tubes.
tradicionales. world.
La The screen,
pantalla, de 2,4
7.8de
m feet (2.4por
ancho m)
widede
1,35 byaltura
4.4 feet
DIFUSOR
DIFFUSER (1.35 m) high,
contiene 2,07 has
controlselbrightness
Controla 2.07 million
millones pixels.
de píxels.
and softens the light.
deslumbramiento y Passivepasivo
Cristal crystal
“ablanda” la luz.

Rayo con
Full-intensity

CIRCUITS
CIRCUITOS
30
is thelas
times per second
Microtransistor
Microtransistor intensidad
light ray total

Son veces por

convert the
Traducen TV signal
la señal de TV that the entire
segundo que seprocess
repite
yinto electric en
la convierten repeats
todo esteitself. The La
proceso.
instructions for
instrucciones the
eléctricas speed is doubled
velocidad in a en
se duplica
alliquid crystal
cristal topara
líquido, use in
high-definition TV.
la TV de alta definición.
forming
formar la the image
imagen en on
la
the screen.
pantalla.

Blocked
Rayo
LIQUID
CRISTAL CRYSTAL Cristalcrystal
4 Liquid líquido
ray
bloqueado
Discovered
LÍQUIDOat the end of Hundreds
Cientos deofmiles
thousands
de of
the 19th century, microscopic crystals
cristales microscópicos, 55 Color filters
Filtros de color Antiglare
Capa anti
Descubierto a fines liquid
del siglo oriented
orientados according
según lasto the Las white
The ondas light
de luzwaves reflejo
layer
crystals share Segundopolarizer
polarizador
XIX, se trata
characteristics
de materia en
of con
both “instructions”
“instrucciones”given
dadasby the blanca retorcidas
twisted by the por 6 Second
un estado especial, por elthey
TFT, TFT,interfere
interfieren las
with los cristales
crystals are son filters theondas
Filtra las light waves in a horizontal
de luz, pero en
solids and liquids.
características de losTheir
sólidos ondaswaves
light de luzand
y lastwist transformadas
transformed enred,
into sentido horizontal.
direction. De acuerdo
The brightness of thecon la dirección que
subpixels
ymolecules can have
de los líquidos. a
Por ejemplo, retuercen
them en sentidos
in specific directions. ondas and
rojas,blue
verdes les fuedepending
varies dada por los
oncristales, al pasar
the direction por el filtro
given
specific crystalline green, waves.
las moléculas pueden específicos. y azules. resultan
the light en subpíxels
waves by themás o menos
liquid brillantes.
crystal.
structure—which
presentar determinada is
characteristic
estructura of solids—
cristalina
but still have some
–característica de losfreedom
sólidos–
of movement.
aunque con ciertaIn libertad
LCDs, de How
Cómo the
actúan Light Intensity
Intensidad de la luz Bloqueolight
Blocked de la luz
crystals can En
movimientos. be el
oriented
cristal by The
Los crystals
cristales are made
se ordenan This takes place
Se produce cuandowhenlosthe
electric
Crystals Act
los cristales
líquido deimpulses whilede
las pantallas to twist
para the rays
retorcer of de
el rayo crystals
cristalesonly
sólolet vertically
dejan
staying
LCD, in place.pueden
los cristales light. The light's
luz. Como final
el segundo oriented
pasar lalight
luz enwaves
sentido
The voltage
El voltaje appliedato
aplicado losthe crystals
cristales
direccionarse a partir de brightness
polarizadordepends on
es horizontal, through,
vertical,which
que esare then
by
porthe
losTFT forces them
transistores to change
del TFT hacen
impulsos eléctricos, aunque how horizontal
el brillo the
final dependerá blocked by the
bloqueada luegosecond
por el
their alignment,
que éstos cambientwisting the light
su alineación y
conservando su lugar. rays are. horizontal
de cuán horizontal polarizer.
segundo polarizador
retuerzan
that passeslathrough
luz que los atraviesa.
them.
resulte el rayo. Medium intensity
Intensidad media Full intensity
Intensidad total horizontal.
 C1 APLICACIONES
12 DAILY-LIFE EN LA VIDA COTIDIANA
APPLICATIONS ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIATECNOLOGÍA 13
TECHNOLOGY 13

CineMovies
3-D en 3D Comparación
Comparison
35-mm
con
with
el cine Movies
35 mm

LT
The greatest achievement of IMAX
a aparición en los últimos años de las salas de proyección 3D con theater in comparison to traditional
he recent appearance of 3-D movie theaters with IMAX technology El mayor logro del cine Imax
tecnología Imax puso en contacto al público con un nuevo concepto movie theaters
respectois the
del size
cine and quality of es
convencional theel
put the public in touch with new ideas in cinematography. The images
tamañoprojected, combined
y la calidad de laswith the sound
imágenes pro-
en cinematografía. Las imágenes de gran tamaño y alta resolución system and 3-D
yectadas. A esoeffects.
se le suma el sistema de
images' high resolution and large size (exceeding human peripheral
que superan la visión periférica humana, el sonido de alta calidad y los sonido y la posibilidad de los efectos 3D.
vision), combined with high-quality sound and three-dimensional effects,
efectos de tres dimensiones intentan sumergir al espectador dentro de la
attempt to immerse viewers within a movie. At first, only documentary THE
LA SCREEN
PANTALLA
película. En un principio, en este tipo de cines sólo se proyectaba películas These are the largest screens in the movie industry.
films were shown in these theaters, because special filming systems were Son las de mayor tamaño en la industria del cine.
They are more
los 20than 65 feet (20 m) ywide, and the
documentales, ya que se requiere de sistemas especiales de filmación para Superan metros de longitud la proyección
required. However, in recent years, more and more commercial films have high-resolution projection
de alta resolución produces
les confiere excellent
gran calidad deimage
realizarlas. Pero en los últimos años cada vez más filmes comerciales se quality.
imagen.Because
Como en they surpass
general the normal
superan el rangorange
de of
been produced in this format. human
visión peripheral vision,
periférica, el viewerssefeel
espectador completely
siente
producen para ser exhibidos en este formato completamente
immersed dentro del film.
in the film.

IMAX screen
Pantalla I-Max
pounds
260573
The Theater
La IMAX
salamovie-projection
kg (260 kg) 26 m
Es el peso promedio de un rollo 85-foot
de película Imax. Los operadores (26-m)
rooms are de
Las salas characterized
proyección de deben manipularlos con reel.
grúas.
is the average weight of an IMAX film
by their large
cine screen
Imax size and
se caracterizan por Operators must handle them with cranes.
their high-quality sound. Thesey la
el gran tamaño de la pantalla
two elements,
calidad combined
del sonido. Estos with
dos
3-D effects,sumados
elementos, immerse aviewers
los
in the movie.
efectos 3D intentan integrar
al espectador a la película. Pantalla
35-mm
35 mm
screen

Projector
Proyector THE
EL FILM
CELULOIDE
Posee
has dos
two lentes,
lenses cuyasimages
whose imágenes
Each
Cada frame measures
fotograma mide1.9
50byX 2.7 inches
70 mm (50 by
y posee 1570per-
convergenon
converge enthe
la pantalla. Utilizan lámparas
screen. Two
de 15.000 Watts,
15,000-watt lampsnecesarias para iluminar
are necessary mm) and hases
foraciones; 15decir,
perforations.
multiplicaInpor
other
diezwords, it has
la super-
la pantalla
to light suchdeagran
largetamaño.
screen. 10ficie
times
de the surface
los de area ofde
las películas the
3535-mm film used
mm utilizados enin
las proyecciones
traditional convencionales.
projections. Each imageAdemás, a cadato
corresponds
imagen
two le corresponde
frames filmed from dos fotogramas
slightly differentfilmados
angles,
Cooling hoses
Mangueras desde diferentes
producing ángulos
a 3-D effect. paraconventional
Unlike lograr el efecto 3D.
movies,
A diferencia del cine convencional, corren en forma
and pipes
y caños de the film moves through the projector horizontally—
horizontal y a mucha mayor velocidad.
refrigeración and at much greater speed.

Sound system
Sistema de sonido 70-mm
70 mm
Dividido eninto
Separated 6 canales y un
six channels film
subwoofer
and para dar mayor
one subwoofer, for
realismo.audio
realistic
Pantalla
Screen
Of
De great size andy
gran tamaño
slightly concave
ligeramente cóncava.

Platos
Platters 35-mm
35 mm
Los dos
The tworollos
reels contienen
display thelasame film
misma from
movie, película,
twopero filmada
slightly
desde ángulos
divergent ligeramente
angles, imitating the
desfasados,
human field imitando
of vision.elThey
ángulo
are
de visión humana.
projected Se proyectan
simultaneously.
simultáneamente.

Filmingpara
Filmar for IMAX
I-MAX The 3-D Effect
El efecto 3D Projection
Las Theaters
salas de proyección
To achieve 3-D effects, two cameras are used in IMAX filming. Each camera uses two lenses to converge images on the screen. Each lens IMAX technology allows for two types of theaters: the traditional type
Para lograr el efecto 3D, en las filmaciones Imax se utilizan dos cámaras. Posee dos lentes, cuyas imágenes convergen en la pantalla. La tecnología Imax permite dos tipos de sala: las tradicionales, de
corresponds to a different eye, with the angle of separation reproducing the corresponds to the angle of vision of one of the eyes, and each with a large, flat screen, and dome-shaped rooms, in which the
Cada una corresponde a uno de los ojos; el ángulo de separación entre ambas Cada lente corresponde al ángulo de visión de uno de los ojos, pantalla plana, aunque de gran tamaño, y las que tienen forma de domo,
angle of separation between human eyes. projection is polarized at an angle perpendicular to the other. projection extends to the sides and ceiling.
equivale al ángulo de separación de los ojos humanos. y la proyección es polarizada perpendicularmente respecto del otro. en las que la proyección se extiende hacia los costados y hacia el techo.
Camera
Cámara
Dome
Domo
Debido a la Cada
Each lente del
projector Theanteojos
Los eyeglasses
queused
utiliza DeThus,
estaduring
forma,the The
El viewer
espectador
imposibilidad
Because the two
colocar
camerasambas
de
cannot be
1 proyector
lens polarizes the
polariza
image atlaan angle
Polarización
Horizontal 22 elbyespectador
viewers have
perpendicular
con
cuentan
polarizadores
33 projection
durante la of the
movie, the los
proyección, polarizers
se
en
"sumerge"
feels
el film.
immersed
horizontal (ojo
polarization No permite
cámaras apenas
placed close enough imagen en forma
perpendicular to polarizers
perpendiculares uno of each eye allow
polarizadores de the within the
izquierdo)
(left eye) efectos
separadas
to achieve unathe de
3-Dotra perpendicular
the other. corresponding
respecto del otrotoque se corresponding
cada image
ojo dejan pasar film. No3D.
3-D
para lograr
effect, el efecto
a mirror is respecto del otro. those of the con los de
corresponden lathrough,
imagen blocking
que les effects.
3D,
usedsetoutiliza
resolveun espejo
the Espejo Vertical
Polarización projector's
cada lenses.
lente del proyector. the image intended
corresponde, pero
para sortear el
problem. semi
Semitransparent polarization
vertical (ojo for thelaother
anulan eye.
corres- Tradicional
Traditional
problema. mirror transparente Camera
Cámara (right eye)
derecho) pondiente al otro. Permite efectos
Allows for 3D.
3-D effects
14 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 15

The DVD Plastic

polycarbonate
Profiles*
From the CD to Blu-ray, information storage has become
denser, and the wavelength of the reading beams has

T
become shorter.
he storage capacity of a DVD, six times that of a traditional CD, has revolutionized the way digital Aluminum A binary pattern,
data is organized and stored in the decade since its appearance in 1997. The DVD explosion reflecting
layer
composed of ones and 1 millimeter = 1,000 micrometers ( m)
zeros, is formed by the 1 micrometer = 1,000 nanometers (nm)
resounded in the world of home movies thanks to its capability of storing entire feature films, transitions between pits
bonus material, and subtitles (in various languages) on only one disc. The evolution of technology, and flat areas. A large pit
CD
represents a certain
however, has not stopped with DVDs. Recent years have seen the introduction of discs able to hold 12 number of consecutive Length of
* Inverted view

times the data of the DVD. zeros. A change in height the shortest
represents a one. pit: 0.9 m

Plastic
Reading with Light polycarbonate

Optical discs (CDs and DVDs) are read by a

laser beam to obtain information. This
information is transformed into a binary electric
signal that is later interpreted and converted into
sounds, images, and data.
DVD
* Inverted view
Length of the
shortest pit:
Laser emitter 0.4 m
1 generates a laser beam of
a specific wavelength.

5
Mirrors
2 guide the ray by working in
coordination.

Direction
3 In order to read the disc,
the laser beam must strike
the surface of the disc 4 HD DVD
perpendicularly. * Inverted view
Length of the shortest
1
4 Lens 7 Blue laser
Because blue light has a shorter wavelength than
pit: 0.204 m

focuses the laser beam red light (which is used in CDs and DVDs), a blue
before it reaches the surface
laser makes it possible to read smaller pits, which
of the disc.
accounts for Blu-ray's greater storage capacity.

Reading
5 The laser beam strikes the 3 From the CD to Blu-ray
disc's reflective surface. The
reflection varies according This comparison traces the evolution of the compact disc—especially its storage capacity.
to the pattern of pits on the
disc's surface. CD DVD HD DVD BR-DVD
6
Maximum capacity (single layer) 875 MB 4.7 GB 15 GB 27 GB BLU-RAY DVD
Prism * Inverted view
6 changes the direction of the
Maximum capacity (double layer) -- 8.5 GB 30 GB 54 GB Length of the shortest
pit: 0.15 m
laser beam that reflects from Laser wavelength 789 nm 650 nm 405 nm 405 nm
the disc and contains the
data read from the disc. Transfer rate in megabits per 6 11.1/10.1 36.55 36/54
second (Mbps)
Resistance to scratches and dirt No No No Yes
Photodiodes
7 translate the variations in the
Maximum video resolution -- 576 pixels 1,080 pixels 1,080 pixels

Supported formats VCD and DVD, VCD, MPEG-2, VC-1 MPEG-2, VC-1,
returning laser beam and 2 SVCD SVCD, (based on WMV), MPEG-4 AVC
convert them into a digital
signal. MPEG-2 H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
16 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 17

Enthusiasm
Nintendo Wii Players
Up to four players
can participate
simultaneously in
The “excessive enthusiasm” of some
early players caused worries about the

W
weakness of Wiimote straps, so
ith the launch of Wii, Nintendo tried to cause a revolution in the same game.
All of the sensors
Nintendo decided to replace them with
the world of video-game consoles. Wii, the fifth generation of use Bluetooth
safer ones and modified 3,200,000 units.
wireless
Nintendo's video-game consoles and part of the seventh technology.
generation of video gaming, is the successor to Nintendo's GameCube.
Wii has several features intended to help a wider audience play video
games and get closer to the world of virtual reality. Among them are
sophisticated wireless commands that transfer tactile effects, such as
blows and vibrations; infrared sensors that detect the position of the
player in a room and convey the information to the console; and
separate controls for each hand. Wii was a commercial success from
the moment of its launch in December 2006.

Console
The Console
is the brain of Wii. Its slim Infrared sensor
design (a mere 1.7 inches [4.4 detects the player's
cm] wide) plays the games that are position from up to a
loaded on standard 4.7-inch (12-cm) distance of 32 feet
discs, accepting both single- and (10 m) or 16 feet (5
double-layered discs. m) during use of the
0 m) pointer function
et (1
System 32 fe (used to indicate
has an IBM PowerPC processor, points on the screen).
ports for four controllers, two USB
ports, slots for memory expansion,
stereo sound, and support for playing
videos on panoramic 16:9 screens. Security strap
allows for the safe use
of the controller with

Connectivity
The console connects with the
250,000 Controllers for
one hand, keeping the
Wiimote from falling
or slipping.
Wii consoles are
Internet (it includes Wi-Fi wireless
connection), from which it can
manufactured daily by every occasion
Nintendo. In preparation for
receive updates 24 hours a day to
the Wii's launch in Japan, Nunchuck
add or upgrade features.
400,000 units were Infrared
Button It is connected to
manufactured (an emitter
unprecedented quantity for a the Wiimote and
Dimensions introduces
new console), all of which
additional options
were sold within a few hours.
for specific games,
The Wiimote Vibrator
such as two-
handed boxing or
generates vibrations appropriate
The Wiimote, the Wii's remote, differs from traditional game changing
for the situation, such as when

5.8 inches (14.8 cm)

consoles by looking more like a remote control than a videogame viewpoints in
shooting a gun or hitting a ball.
controller. It was developed to be useable with just one hand. target shooting.
Internal speaker
The Movement Sensor Magnetic field Magnetic field reproduces sounds, such as
gunshots or the clash of swords.
A player's movements are
detected by means of a flexible
silicon bar inside the Wiimote. Console buttons (holding down
This bar moves within an electric both buttons activates Wiimote's
field generated by capacitors. discovery mode, which can be
The player's movements cause Capacitor Capacitor used to set it up to work with a
Movement Bluetooth-enabled PC) Traditional
the bar to change the electric
field. The change is detected and 1.2 inches 1.4 inches
controller
transmitted to the infrared Silicon Silicon LED light
(3.08 cm) (3.62 cm) This controller is still
piece piece indicates which player is active
sensor, which translates it into Port is used to add peripherals, such as the necessary for playing
in multiplayer games.
the movements of the virtual Fixed Fixed Nunchuck, which not only enhances its with games from earlier
character. base base functions but also its traditional controller. Nintendo consoles.
 DAILY-LIFE
18 C1 APPLICATIONS
APLICACIONES EN LA VIDA COTIDIANA ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECNOLOG
TECHNOLOGY
ÍA 19

La cáDigital
The mara digital
Camera Controls
Controles Viewfinder
Visor
2 Procesamiento
Binary system en
sistema binario
processing

L
T
a palabra
he fotografía procede
word “photography” comesdel griego
from Greeky significa "dibujar
words which, la luz" (de
combined, photos=luz,
mean “to drawywith Para convertir
To convert
fotosito
thelas
(analógicas)
photosite
cargascharges
electric
(analog) to
eléctricas
a señales
of del
the
digitales,
digital signals, thela
graphis=dibujo).
light” (from photos, Es la
or técnica
“light,” de
andgrabar
graphis,imágenesfijas sobre
or “drawing”). una superficie
Photography detechnique
is the material of cámara
camerautiliza
uses aun conversor(ADC),
converter (ADC),which
que
sensible afixed
recording la luz.images
Las cámaras digitales se basan
on a light-sensitive surface.en Digital
el mismo principio
cameras arede exposición
based on thea la luz asigna unavalor
assigns
cargas
binary
acumuladas
charges
binario
valueato
stored in the
cada
eachuna
en elphotosite,
onedeoflas
fotosito ystoring
los
the

que la fotografía
principles tradicional,
of traditional pero, en but,
photography, lugarinstead
fijar lasofimágenes a unaonpelícula
fixing images impregnada
film coated con
with chemical codifica
them ascomo pixeles
pixels (puntos
(points de color).
of color).
sustancias químicas
substances sensitive sensibles a la process
to light, they luz, procesan la intensidad
the intensity of thede la luz
light andy store
almacenan archivos
the data in digital Pantalla
digitales.
files. Las digital
Modern cámaras digitales
cameras compactas
generally havemodernas generalmente
multiple functions and are sonable
multifuncionales
to record soundy and LCD
de LCD ADDITIVE
LA MEZCLAMIXTURE
ADITIVA
video in addition
contienen algunostodispositivos
photographs. capaces de grabar sonidos y/o videos además de las fotografías Each pixel
El color
Varying
de iscada
colored
quantities
determinados
pixelby
semixing
obtienevalues
of each
valores of these
de Rojo,
of RGB.
mezclando
verdecolors
y azulcan
(RGB).
reproduce almost
Las cantidades any color
relativas of theuno
de cada visible
de estos
spectrum.
colores pueden reproducir casi cualquier color del
The Digital digital
El sistema System Imagen
espectro visible.
Digital image
digital
IMAGE
1 CAPTURA
CAPTURE
DE LA IMAGEN
The image
upsideabajo
appears
Aparece boca
downy and
laterally
lateral-
inverted.
mente invertida

Object
Objeto Objective
Objetivo Diaphragm
Diafragma Shutter
Obturador CCD
The objective
Permite focuses
enfocar the image,
la imagen. Refracta It determines
Determina thela amount
cantidadofdelight
luz that
que entra The shuttereldetermines
Determina tiempo quethe length
durará la of
refracting the
los rayos de luzlight
querays
lleganthat arrive
desde el entersa through the
través del lens. This
objetivo. Se ismide
measured
en the exposure.
exposición. SeItmide
is generally measured
en fracciones de
from
objetothe object
para hacersoque
thatconverjan
they y in f-numbers.
númerosThef. A greater the f-number,
mayor número f, menor in fractions
segundo. of a second.
A mayor The faster
velocidad, menorthe 0 255
converge
formen unainto a coherent
imagen image.
coherente. the smaller thedeopening
apertura of the diaphragm.
diafragma. shutter,
tiempo detheexposición.
shorter the exposure.
The valores
Los value ofdeeach can
cada vary
uno fromentre
varían 0 (darkness)
el 0
to 255 (the ygreatest
(oscuridad) colorintensidad
255 (mayor intensity). del color).
Externalde
Tarjeta
THE SENSORQUE
EL SENSOR THAT REPLACESAL
REEMPLAZA FILM
ROLLO
memory
memoria
The CCD
El CCD (charge-coupled
(dispositivo device)
acoplado is a group
de carga), es unof small diodes
conjunto sensitive
de pequeños to light
diodos RESOLUTION
(photosites),
card
externa RESOLUCIÓN
sensibles a la which convert photons
luz (fotositos), (light) into
que convierten electrons
los fotones (electric
(luz) charges).
en electrones
(cargas eléctricas). is
Semeasured
mide en DPIin PPIs, or por
(pixels pixels per square
pulgada). Es lainch—
Photosites
Fotositos the number
cantidad de of pixels
pixels quethat cancapturar
puede be captured
una by a
cámara
digital
digital. camera. This figure
Esa cantidad indicaindicates
cuál seráthe size and
el tamaño
CCD are
Sonlight-sensitive cells.
celdas sensibles a laThe
luz.amount
Cuanto quality
of lightes
shining máximoofdethe image.
visualización o impresión que se puede
mayor la luz on
quethe photosites
impacta sobreislos
directly
fotositos,proportional
mayor es lato the electric
carga eléctrica conseguir.
charge that is accumulated.
que se acumula en ese punto.

Compression
Compresión y
110 3 and storage
Filters
Filtros almacenamiento
To
Paragenerate
generarauna
filters must
necesario
color
unpack
ubicar
image,ena colores
imagen
unathe image
serie
series ofes
into para
de filtros
million
millones Once
Un vezthe image is la
digitalizada digitized,
imagen,aun
discrete valueslaofimagen
descomponer red, green, and
en sus blue
tres Lenses
Lentes CCD The
es lanumber
cantidadof de
digital
cámaras microprocessor compresses
microprocesador comprime esos thedatos
data in
y los
(RGB).
colores básicos: rojo, verde y azul (RGB). cameras
digitales sold worldwide
que se vendieron, a memory as
almacena en JPG or TIFF
la tarjeta de files.
memoria en formato
during 2006. en 2006.
nivel mundial, JPG o TIF.

A Long
Una Evolution
larga evolución
La "cámara
The oscura"
camera obscura A light-sensitive
Una sustancia The optical
Se unen los and Nicéphore
Nicéphore Niépce
Niepce The daguerreotype
El daguerrotipo The calotype
El calotipo Glass plates
Placas de cristal In color
En colores Flexible filmflexible
La película Color photograph
Fotografía color Thevideo
La videofoto
Light raysde
Los rayos reflected by an object
luz reflejados por un pass
objeto substance
sensible a la luz chemical
principiosprinciples
óptico exposes
Expuso aalatinluzplate,
durantecovered
ocho The daguerreotype
Daguerre obtained
obtuvo imágenes Invented
Inventadoby porTalbot, this
Talbot, fueis Theperfecciona
Se substitutionlaof The
El Scottish
inglés physicist
Maxwell The Kodak Kodak
La cámara camerautilizaba
uses a roll
un The Lumière brothers
Los hermanos Lumiere photograph
Sony presentó una
through
pasaban aportiny
unhole and are
diminuto projected
agujero, y as Experiments by the are combined.
y químico with
horasbitumen,
una placatode light for eight
peltre finely detailed
con detalle finoimages on de
en plazas the first positive-to-
el primer proceso paper for a del
sustitución glass plate
papel por James Clerk
obtuvo Maxwell
la primer of photosensitized
rollo de película de celluloid
celuloide perfect the procedure
perfeccionaron el of cámara reflex que
Sony produces a reflex
Los experimentos del
an inverted image
proyectaban within
su imagen a box. Adentro
invertida lens GermanFrederich
scientist Images are created by hours.
cubiertaThe bitumen
con betún de hardens
judea. Por copper plates covered
cobre cubiertas with
por plata negative process. The
positivo-negativo. Las is perfected.
una placa de The plates
cristal. obtains
foto the
color first color
utilizando film. The film could
fotosensibilizado. be used
Permitía using glass plates
procedimiento: covered
placas de grababa imágenes
camera that recordsen un
alemán Consiguieron imágenes
concentrates
de una caja. Unathelente
light concentraba
and focuses la the Frederick Schulze prove placing sheets and turnsde
la acción white
la luzfrom the
se endurece y silver and photosensitized
fotosensibilizadas con yodo.with exposures
exposiciones last from one
duraban de to are sensitizedcon
sensibilizada withnitrato de photograph
tres negativos byde
using for 100 photographs
obtener 100 fotografías using
con with
cristaldifferent colored
recubiertas de disco
images magnético. Se podía
on a magnetic
image. Mirrors la
luz y enfocaba are used toDereflect
imagen. the
utilizaban
Schulze probaron que
that poniendo hojas directly over
directamente exposure, producing anlaimage.
blanquea produciendo imagen. iodine. The (positiva
La imágen images (single and
y única) five
uno aminutes. An unlimited
cinco minutos. silver nitrate,
plata, which
que recibía la imagen light filters atotravés
separación, exposures of only
una exposición de auna
fraction grains
gránulos to producían
produce images
una ver
disc.enThe
unaimages
TV y dió lugar
could
la luzlight blackens
ennegrecía el silver the
sobre el papel sensible y and
light-sensitive paper
image
espejoson a flat
para surface,
reflejarla enand an artist
un plano y un nitrate.de plata. exposing them to sunlight. The non-hardened areas
Luego se limpian las zonas no are positive) are developed
era revelada con vapor dewith number of prints could
Permitía reproducir desde be received the negative
negativa. La exposición era produce
de filtros three of a second.
fracción de segundo formed
imagen formada por of
by tiny points abelaviewed
imagenon digital
a
nitrato exponiéndolas a la luz del
traces
artista the projected
calcaba image.
esa proyección. The images cannot be fixed. then washed away.
endurecidas. mercury
mercuriovapor and fixed
y se fijaba with
con una reproduced from aun
un único negativo, single image.
de unosThe exposure is
segundos. separate negatives. cada una. primary
pequeñoscolors.
puntos de los television set.
Sol. No pudieron fijarlas. saline solution.
solución de sal. negative.
número infinito de copias. only a few seconds. colores primarios.

1500 1725 1802 1826

1725 1839 1841 1851 1861 1889 1907 1989
20 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 21

Video
C
reated at the end of the 1950s, video
was originally a technology linked to Several formats
television. Before its invention, Different systems and media are used
programs had to be broadcast live, for different applications, depending
on the final quality desired.
with all of the inconveniences HI8 DIGITAL 8 DVD MINI DV

associated with such a live FOR PROFESSIONAL USE

DV cam
event. Very soon, new Manual
Digital betacam
focus ring
possibilities were found for
video, and in 1965, the Korean
artist Nam June Paik made
the first art video. In 1968,
Sony developed the first
Lens
2. STORAGE
Data is stored as bytes. The image can be reproduced
without losing image or audio quality. The level of
detail is greater in digital than in analog.
25% DIGITAL TAPE
is small, which
makes it ideal for
portable cameras.
more quality than the
portable video camera. On the analog formats
Digital tape
combines magnetic
other hand, the launch of the tape with the data
VCR system by Philips in 1970 The head records and compression made
possible by digital
plays back by means of an
made viewing movies at home a electromagnet. technology.
part of everyday life. STRUCTURE OF THE TAPE Carries the electric signals
that represent image and
sound
The tape is wound
on a guiding roller.

Lubricating layer Diamond-like

1. IMAGE RECORDER
Digital cameras allow for capturing
carbon layer

(48 mm)
video as well as for taking pictures,

inches
1.889
using the same technology. Magnetic layer

CCD chip 2.598

The image is formed on this inches
Light source (66 mm)
sensor by the light that
Lens passes through the lens, and
the image is transformed by
the sensor into electric
signals.

RECHARGEABLE Black cover

BATTERY
Up to six hours

REPRODUCTION AND EDITING

An internal program translates the light
data (analog information) into the binary
system (digital information).
The image will be
comprised of cells
called pixels.
A built-in
microphone allows
LCD ROTATING
SCREEN
is used as a monitor
or viewfinder. It can
3. What is recorded can be viewed by
connecting the camera to a TV, a video
recorder, or a printer to print photographs.
The particles of the
magnetic tape form
varying patterns.

It can be used directly for the inclusion of be rotated to Film base

in a computer. high-quality audio. different angles.

From Analog SUPER 8
Eastman Kodak developed an 8 mm-wide
to Digital film inside a plastic cartridge. The film was
used with a portable camera and a
Technology projector, and the format was very
popular for home movies.
BETAMAX
Sony developed magnetic tapes that were
of high quality but had little recording
time. It continued to be manufactured for
high-quality recordings until 2002.
VHS
The Video Home System was developed
by JVC. Its advantages included re-
recording most movies on a single tape,
though some image quality was lost.
VIDEO 2000
This system of magnetic-tape cassettes
used both sides of the tape, similar to
audiotape. It was distributed by Philips
until 1988.
VHS SYSTEM
The VHS system became a standard
for recording and viewing
videocassettes. Home viewers and
video clubs became popular.
DVD
Philips and Sony introduced this digital
disc. It can store every type of digital file,
including high-definition video. A laser is
used to view it.
WEBCAMS
These small digital cameras connected to a
computer can take photographs and record
short videos. Connected to the Internet, they
can be used in real time.

Duration 3 minutes Duration 60 minutes Duration 60 to 90 minutes Duration 8 hours Duration of up to 240 minutes

1965 1975 1976 1979 1980 1995 2000

22 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 23

Microwaves
T
his is the name given to electromagnetic waves found between radio
waves and the infrared spectrum. They have many applications,
the best known being the microwave oven, developed in 1946
from research conducted by Percy Spencer. Cellular-phone
technology, cable TV and Internet, radars, and wireless protocols How a Microwave
such as Bluetooth also use microwaves to transfer and receive Oven Works
information.
What it does is heat food by using Microwave oven
high-frequency electromagnetic waves.
3 The waves are distributed uniformly within
the cavity, generating heat by the friction of
the molecules present in food and liquids.

Electric plug Magnetron

1 Transmits low- 2 The magnetron transforms electric
frequency electric energy into electromagnetic waves
current (high-frequency microwaves).

THE ERS-1 SATELLITE In the winter, we usually rub

ORBITING EARTH our hands together to generate
It was launched from the Guyana heat; this principle is used in
Space Center in July 1991, and its microwave ovens.
mission was to map the
atmosphere and surface of the
Earth by using microwaves.

Radio control Base station Cells and telephones

In Communications 1 controls and assigns the
2 The station contains
3 Each cell has a
functions related to radio radio equipment that transmitting base station,
According to the frequency and length of waves. The geographic area in issues electromagnetic which has multiple
the wave used, the microwaves are also which the service is rendered waves from channels for the
used in radio, TV, and cellular telephones. is called the coverage area. communication antennas. simultaneous use of
dozens of phones. When a
The Electromagnetic user passes from one cell
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY
Spectrum allows communication between users whose
to another, the phone
leaves the frequency it
locations are unknown or who are mobile. To this was using and takes an
Electromagnetic energy has waves UNITS OF MEASUREMENT end, an infrastructure with base station antennas available frequency in the
that have specific length and
Length of the wave Meters as its sole visible element must be set up. new cell.
frequency within a continuous range known
as the electromagnetic spectrum. Frequency Hertz

ELECTRIC CURRENT Oscillation

The frequency is a measure The greater the

of the number of times that wavelength, the
the electromagnetic field less the energy.
oscillates in one second.

The smaller
METERS 105 104 103 102 101 100 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-5 10-6 10-7 10-8 10-9 10-10 10-11 10-12 10-13 10-14 10-15 10-16 the length of
the wave, the
greater the
RADIO WAVES TV WAVES MICROWAVES INFRARED VISIBLE ULTRAVIOLET X-RAYS GAMMA RAYS energy.
RADIATION LIGHT RADIATION
24 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 25

Scanners
S
everal technologies that digitize, read, detect, and trace images, objects, or signals can be
grouped under this term. The better known are computer scanners and bar-code scanners,
HEAD GUIDE PRECISION MOTOR
3. DIGITAL ARRAY
The data from the sensor are placed in an array
that is used in reconstructing the image.
but scanners are also used in medicine, biometric identification, security systems, and The scanner head must be able to advance
detection of radio frequencies. Some computer scanners incorporate text-recognition software, moves along the and stop the head every
hundredth of a millimeter.
length of this guide.
which can digitize printed, typed, or even handwritten text. This capability has been very useful in
digitizing a great amount of material at universities and libraries; however, it has also encouraged DATA
pirating in publishing. CABLE The image is made
up of a very fine grid
formed by elements
called pixels.

Each pixel is assigned a

number that represents its
How an Image Is Digitized color and brightness.

The scanner comes from the phrase “to scan.” An image It is placed
is scanned by a head that transforms it into digital data. facedown on the
transparent screen.

The cover can be

removed to scan

1. THE ORIGINAL
can be any document with a
flat surface, such as a
originals that are
very thick. LUZ

photograph, a paper document,

or a page in a book.

2. SCANNER HEAD
analyzes a photograph and
converts it into digital
information.
HOW IT WORKS
Original
LINE BY LINE 1 Light bounces against
the original and takes
The scanner head reads one Light
small horizontal strip at a time. on its colors. source

A system of
Once a strip is 2 mirrors and lenses
finished, the head
moves and reads
the following one.
concentrates this
light in the optic
sensor.
Lens 4. IN THE COMPUTER
The image, converted into numerical
data, is displayed on the computer. The
The optic sensor image can be retouched and enhanced
3 transforms the received
Mirrors
through specialized computer programs.
light into electric
Each strip can be less than impulses. These are then OPTIC MIRRORS
0.00039 inch (0.01 mm) thick. digitized (transformed SENSOR
into data).

Other Types of Scanners

COMPUTERIZED DIGITAL FINGERPRINTS
BAR CODES The scanner that The complete set of
A small scanner with a laser reads is used daily is
TOMOGRAPHY
The computer are made by tiny electric sensors reproduces the
takes a series of X- sensors that react in contact
each bar and assigns a number the bar-code reconstructs fingerprint.
rays of the body from with skin.
according to its thickness, thus the image.
reader. different angles.
reproducing a numerical code. Skin

Sensors
26 DAILY-LIFE APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 27

Athletic Shoes
T
hese shoes were already used in ancient RUNNING

times in Mesopotamia and Egypt, but they

became widely used in the last decades of the
20th century. The first athletic shoes appeared in ounces
1893. They were made of canvas and were used
so that sailors did not need to walk with shoes
along the docks. Today athletic shoes
13 (390 g)
IS THE WEIGHT OF THIS
SOCCER

incorporate true technological advances ATHLETIC SHOE.

designed to meet the needs of each sport. For
instance, athletic shoes have begun to
SIDE PANELS
For ventilation
incorporate air chambers, located between the BASKETBALL
insole and the external covering of the sole that
act as cushions to protect the foot. METALLIC MESH
Ultrathin to ward
off dust

HIGHLY
ENGINEERED MESH TENNIS
allows air but not dirt
to pass through.
Interior
Many different materials TOE CAP
are used. Models for provides a good fit
running must satisfy and molds to the
requirements for cushioning, foot. Depending on HIKING
stability, and ventilation. the sport, it offers
protection or low
weight and
breathability.

CROSS
TRAINING
COUNTER
Made of a semirigid material,
the reinforcement covers the
heel internally and can prevent
instability.
RUGBY
INSOLE
reduces excess heat and friction. SOLE
CUSHIONING
Made of foam rubber or EVA to can be made of solid or natural rubber. Grip Track shoes include
SYSTEM
provide extra cushioning. Some include air bubbles that compress nails, and soccer shoes
Viscous cushioning
material, placed in TOE GUARD when impacted. Each sport requires a include cleats that can
the area of impact Protection from rubbing different design whose main function is to Flexibility sink into the soil for a
LATERAL MOVEMENT
for running against the toe cap provide a good grip on the surface. better grip.
is one of the most dangerous movements for sports
people. A good shoe controls the natural movement of the HANDBALL
foot. There are three types of footstep.
MIDSOLE
joins the front toe cap CHASSIS
(to which it is sewn) Used for reinforcement
Biomechanics of Racing
with the insole (to The openings provide
which it is glued). airflow. IMPACT LANDING IMPULSE
1 When running, the 2 With support, the foot 3 The pressure shifts
SUPINATION NEUTRAL PRONATION movement of the foot naturally rotates inward from the heel to the
FASTENING SYSTEM INNER SOLE is cyclic. It requires the The heel hits (pronation). The stabilizing front of the foot,
needs flexible Correct and leans toward the inside Shoelaces, zippers, or
shoes and without any because of a person being Their function is to provide cushioning of the heel, the ground elements prevent excessive which is compressed
cushioning. disorders flat-footed or overweight. Velcro. They must fasten the comfort and stability and to the part of the foot with a force pronation. as it pushes off the
2 percent of 24 percent of 74 percent of the shoe in such a way that the support the foot. They must that undergoes three to four ground.
repeated impact. times the
the population the population population foot can flex in movement. be light and flexible. weight of the
body.
Breakthrough Inventions
I
n the history of technology, there
are milestone inventions that
radically changed the world and the
way we perceive it. Many of these
inventions, such as cinematography
or the radio, are the realization of the
longtime hopes and dreams of humankind.
Others, such as the Internet, the cellular
telephone, or GPS, have transformed the
way we communicate and have
THE FIRST COMPUTER SKYSCRAPERS 30-31 THE COMPUTER 38-39 THE PRINTING PRESS 46-47
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer (ENIAC) was invented in the THE CELLULAR TELEPHONE 32-33 THE INTERNET 40-41 THE LASER 48-49
1940s and weighed 30 tons, occupied 1,800
square feet (170 sq m), and required a total GPS 34-35 CINEMATOGRAPHY 42-43 HOLOGRAPHY 50-51
of 17,468 electronic valves for its operation.
THE COMPUTER CHIP 36-37 TELEVISION 44-45
dramatically shortened distances between of more new technologies. Others, such as
people. Inventions such as the printing computers, have not only become
press and the computer chip led to the indispensable tools, but they have also led
dramatic development of the arts and us to question the nature of intelligence.
sciences, enabling in turn the appearance
 38 BREAKTHROUGH
30 C2 INVENTIONS
INVENTOS TRASCENDENTALES ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECHNOLOGY
TECNOLOGÍA 39
31

Los rascacielos
Skyscrapers La Torre
The Burj Burj
DubaiDubai
is
Esthe tallest edificio
el mayor buildingdel
in the world and is
mundo

E
T
he development
l desarrollo of newmateriales
de nuevos _especialmente
materials—especially high-performance concrete
concretos y aceros and
de alto
actualmente
currently
Dubai, Emiratos
United
en construction
under construccióninenDubai,
ArabesItsUnidos.
Arab Emirates. Su altura
final height has been
steel—has _
rendimientoledpermiten
to the design and construction
hoy proyectar of buildings
y construir edificios to
de heights
alturas never
nunca achieved
antes definitiva
kept secretestounavoid
secreto para evitar
potential competition, but
posibles
it competidores,
is believed that it will pero se cree que
be anywhere from
before. For architects
alcanzadas. andlaengineers
Sin embargo, estructura whonowork
lo es on theLos
todo. construction of largepara los
mayores desafíos será detoentre
2,625 3,280800feety(800-1,000
1000 metros. m).
skyscrapers,
arquitectos ethe greatestque
ingenieros challenges lie in
se dedican ensuring
a la the adequate
construcción delivery
de grandes of services,
rascacielos from
es cómo
FICHA TECNICA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
elevator
asegurarsystems and gasprovisión
una adecuada and water
de lines to complex
servicios, emergency
desde los sistemassystems. There ishasta
de ascensores, also la
a
new issuepresión
correcta to deal de
with:
gashow to make
y agua, the structures
pasando less vulnerable
por los complejos sistemastodepotential terrorist
emergencias. Altura:Between
Height: 2,625 and 3,280 feet
808m a 1011m.
(800-1,000 m)
attacks,
Además,especially after thenueva:
una problemática September
cómo11, 2001, attacks
hacerlos in New York
menos vulnerables a City.
posibles ataques Pisos: 181 a 216.
Floors: 181 to 216
terroristas, especialmente luego de los del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en Nueva York Ascensores: 1050m/minuto o 65 km/h
3,445 feet per
(serán los más
Elevators: veloces del minute
mundo).(1,050
m/min) or 40 miles per hour (65 km/h)
Estructura:
(they concreto
will be the fastestdeinalto.
the world)
rendimiento reforzado con acero.
From the Ground
Del suelo al cielo to the Sky Las
Thebases
foundation
Structure: High-performance concrete
vidrios
Fachada: with
reinforced con filtros solares,
steel
aluminio y acero inoxidable.
Theconstrucción
La constructionde of un
a skyscraper
rascacielosbegins withcon
comienza theunadigging
granof a large
fosa, en Están
is made formadas
of layerspor
of vigas y
concrete Exterior: Glass with solar filters,
donde
pit for se
theasientan
foundationlos cimientos que soportan
that will support la estructura.
the entire Dicha
edifice. This placas
and beamsde acero
and muy
platesresistentes
of very Cantidadand
aluminum, de concreto: 260.000 m 3
stainless steel
Columna
Steel
estructura
structure ofdeconcrete
concretoand y acero, debe
steel has tocontemplar el peso de lathe
take into consideration mole, la
weight ytough
capassteel.
de concreto. Estas
These structures
resistencia lateral
of the building, a losresistance
lateral vientos y,to
eventualmente, a los terremotos.
winds, and, possibly, earthquakes.
de acero
column
estructuras son colocadasand
are placed underground, bajo Volume of concrete:34.000
Acero reforzado: toneladas
9,181,810 cubic feet
la tierra
they y sonthe
support las main
que sostienen
columns. (260,000 cu m)
Costo presupuestado: US$ 876
Steel
Placa de las columnas principales. millones steel: 34,000 tons
The steel and concrete
Los cimientos, de acero y plate
hiero
Reinforced
1 foundation is made
concreto, están up of
formados Peso: el edificio
Projected tendrámillion
cost: $876 un peso
equivalente al de 100.000 elefantes
apor
series of bases.
una serie Each
de bases.
base
Cada supports one of
base soporta unathe
de Weight: The building's weight will equal
main columns.principales.
las columnas that of 100,000 elephants.
Steel
Vigasbeams
de acero
FLEXIBILIDAD
Los vientos fuertes "mueven"
los grandes rascacielos. El
FLEXIBILITY
Burj Dubai no sólo no está
excentowinds
Strong de este
canfenómeno,
cause tall
sino que es especialmente
skyscrapers to sway. The Burj Dubai
El
Thenúcleo
core
vulnerable
building, por its
given su height,
altura. will be
providesgran
Otorga the resistencia
skyscraperlateral
with particularly vulnerable to this
strong
al lateral resistance.
rascacielos. También It is Concrete foundation phenomenon.
Altura Deriva
Base de hormigón
also made of
construido enconcrete
concreto and
y
steel and
acero, generally houses
generalmente alberga el 604,9 m 1,45 m
Height Sway
service
área de elements (elevators,
servicios (ascensores, 569,7 m 1,25 m
stairways,etc.)
escaleras, etc.). 1,985 feet (605 m) 5 feet (1.5 m)
442,1 feet
1,870 m (570 m)0,75 m 4 feet (1.25 m)
1,450
375,3 feet
m (442 m)0,54 m 2.5 feet (.75 m)
Reinforced
El hormigónconcrete
armado
1,230 feet (375 m) 2 feet (.5 m)
is the
Es basic material
el material base deinlas
modern construction.
construcciones modernas.It

2 The columnas
Las weight ofenthelasbuilding
rests uponelcolumns
descansa
que
peso del made
edificio
consists
Se of auna
trata de
concrete que
concreto
steelestructura
una
layer
withalan
structure de
capa

that
of de
internal
contener
givesenit
acero
940.000
248,320
Son los litros de agua que se requerirán
extraordinary
su resistance.
interior adquiere una The
por number
día paraof gallons of
la water thatdel
will
of high-performance,
son construidas con hormigón abastecer demanda
extraordinaria resistencia be required Burj
to supply
Dubaithe daily demand at
reinforced
armado de concrete.
alto rendimiento. rascacielos
the Burj Dubai skyscraper

The columns together

Las columnas junto con las Joints
Las uniones STRUCTURE
ESTRUCTURA
3 with
vigasthe beams of steel
transversales de acero The vigas
Las beams andcolumnas
y las main columns are son
principales
and concrete
y concreto vanform the el
formando The basedel
La base of the building
edificio is designed
fue diseñada in a Y de
en forma
joined by
unidas bolts, welds,
mediante rivets,
bulones, soldaduras,
framework ofrascacielos.
esqueleto del the shape. In addition
Y. Además to providing
de otorgarle structural a
mayor resistencia
concrete fittings,
remaches, or a combination
empotramientos del concreto
skyscraper. strength, this design
la estructura, brinda provides
una mayor more
áreaarea
parafor
oofvarias
these de
techniques.
estas técnicas combinadas.
windows. Prior to construction,
colocar ventanas. the structure
Antes de comenzar la
was rotated according
construcción, to the
la estructura fueprevailing
rotada dewinds
to reducecon
acuerdo structural stress.
los vientos dominantes para
reducir el estrés estructural.

Core
Núcleo

Finally, the curtain

4
4
wall isFinalmente,
built over the
framework.
typically made
sobre
It is se
el esqueleto
of
Concrete
Concreto
High-performance concrete is manufactured by
arma la fachada,
glass generalmente
panels, although con using finer
Losparticles and adding special
de alto rendimiento chemicals.
se obtienen
otherpaneles
materialsde are
vidrio. Because mediante
of its increased resistance,
la utilización smaller amounts
de partículas más
also used.
Aunque es posible of concrete are
finas needed.
y el agregado de químicos especiales.
utilizar varios otros Por su mayor resistencia permiten la
materiales.
PLANTA FLOOR
SAMPLE TIPO PLAN
utilización de menor cantidad de material.
Distribution
Distribuciónof
deunits/rooms
departamentos/habitaciones
The Tallest in the World Total area total
Superficie
Today the tallest buildings in the world stand between 980 and (not including
Los más
1,640 altos
feet (300-500 delthe mundo
m). But new generation of skyscrapers
(sin contar
hallways
pasillos yand
áreas Superficie
will at least double this measure. public areas):
comunes): Size
de losof corner
Actualmente, los edificios más altos del mundo miden entre 300 22,310 units:
departamentos
1,980
2072,95 m2
y 500 metros. Pero la nueva generación de rascacielos duplicará, square feet de las esquinas:
square feet
como mínimo, esa medida. (2,073 sq m) (184
183,45 sqm m)
2

Empire World Trade Jin Mao Sears Petronas Taipei 101 Burj Dubai
State Center Tower Tower Twin (Taiwan) (U.A.E.)
Building (U.S.) (China) (U.S.) Towers 1,667 more than
Empire World Trade Jin Mao Torre Torres Torre Burj
(U.S.) 1,368 feet 1,377 1,450 (Malaysia) feet 2,600 feet
State Center Tower Sears Petronas Taipei 101 Dubai
1,250 (417 m) feet feet 1,483 (508 m) (800 m)
(EE.UU.) (EE.UU.) (China) (EE.UU.) (Malasia) (Taiwán) (E.A.U.)
feet —destroyed (420 m) (442 m) feet Lobby yand
áreas de
381m)m 413 m
in 2001 420 m 442 m (452 m
452 509 m 808 m
(381 m) service
serviciosareas
Units/rooms
Departamentos/
Habitaciones
Elevators
The Uncertain Primacy
Reinado
of the Burj Dubai
Ascensores
Emergency exits
Escaleras de
emergencia
The recorddel
El récord setBurj
by Burj Dubai
Dubai could
podría ser be short-
breve
lived
si se if the planned
concreta construction
la proyectada of the Al
construcción
Burj,
de laalso
torreinAl
Dubai
Burj,and with aenplanned
también height
Dubai, de
of 3,940
1200 feet (1,200
metros m), goes forward.
de altura.
32 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 33

In Motion
The Cellular Telephone Cell sites detect the movement of a cell phone; as the signal weakens at one site,
it becomes stronger at another. This movement allows seamless communication,
even during high-speed movement from one cell site to another.

F
ew inventions have had as widespread an impact as the cellular phone. In just two-and-a-half
decades, the cellular phone has become extremely popular around the world and almost
indispensable for populations in the developed world, to the point that sales already surpass one When a cell phone user
moves away from the
billion units a year. The latest cell phones, in addition to being small, portable, and light, are true service provider's
workstations that far exceed their original function of keeping the user connected at any time and place. network, the service can
be provided by another
carrier. The phone is
then in roaming mode.

Communication 2 The switch INTERNATIONAL

Providers divide an area into a The switch maintains a database of all the cell CALLS
system of cell sites. Each site phones that are turned on and their cell-site
locations. It then locates the position of the As is the case with landline
has an antenna that detects the phones, international
presence of a particular cell phone in called party and sends the information
to the appropriate cell site. communications are facilitated
its area and identifies it through the with the assistance of satellites.
phone's unique code.

Calling
1 When a number is dialed, the antenna Smartphones
at the local cell site identifies the
caller and the called party. It then In addition to being a telephone and having such traditional features as a calendar,
Connecting
transmits this information
to the switch.
3 The local cell-site
calculator, and camera, a smartphone incorporates advanced computing capabilities
for connecting to the Internet through Wi-Fi and to other devices through Bluetooth.
antenna establishes
communication with the
requested cell phone.

28 ounces
(780 g)
is the weight of the Motorola
DynaTAC 8000X, which was the
first commercially available cellular
3 billion
is the approximate number of
phone. More recent models weigh
cell phone subscribers in the
less than 2 ounces (50 g).
world, according to the latest
data. This number is equal to
almost half of the world
population.

The Evolution of the Cell Phone

Since the first cell phone appeared on the market in 1983,
mobile telephones have become smaller and, at the same time,
they have incorporated dozens of new features, such as Internet
connectivity, picture taking, and videoconferencing; the mobile
telephones also play music.

1983 1993 1996 1999 1999 2000 2001 2001 2005 2007

Motorola Simon Personal Motorola Nokia Sharp Samsung Kyocera Panasonic Motorola iPhone
DynaTAC 8000X Communicator StarTAC 7110 J-SH04 SCH-M105 QCP6035 P2101V ROKR
has a 3.5-inch
First cellular First PDA/cell phone First clamshell cell phone One of the first to use First cell-phone First MP3 cell First Palm- Among the first third- First cell phone (8.9-cm) touch
phone Added applications such as a Design reaches the cell Wireless Application camera (released phone powered cell generation cell phones (with with iTunes screen and Wi-Fi
calculator, calendar, address book, etc. phone Protocol (WAP) only in Japan) phone videoconferencing) Web access.
34 BREAKTHROUGH
42 INVENTIONS
C2 INVENTOS TRASCENDENTALES ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECHNOLOGY 43
TECNOLOGÍA 35

El
GPSGPS Los satélites,
Satellites,
The
faros en elin
Lighthouses
Los Navstar
Navstar GPS
satellites
espacio
emit signals
que el receptor
the Sky
GPS satellites are the
son el corazón
that para
interpreta
delheart
are interpreted
of the
sistema.
determinarby
system.
Emiten
suthe
las The
señales
GPS receiver
ubicación en el
-hoy, en realidad,
24 main satellitesson
trayectorias
30-
that
(20,200 km),sincronizadas
orbitan
orbit a unosat20.200
the Earth
para cubrir
collectively covering thetoda
km deofaltura,
an altitude
la surface
entire superficie
12,550con
of del
miles
the planeta.
planet.

C
T
to determine
mapa. its location
Agrupados on a map.
originalmente Theuna
como system has a constellation
constelación of
de 24 satélites Cada
They 12 horas
circle theestos
Earthsatélites
every 12dan una vuelta completa a la Tierra.
hours.
he un
on Global Positioning
pequeño receptorSystem (GPS)
de mano, el allows
Sistema a person to locate his Global
de Posicionamiento or her position
(GPS por sus
anywhere on the planet, at any time, using a small handheld receiver. Originally
siglas en inglés), permite ubicarse en cualquier punto del planeta, en cualquier momento. 1 El
Thereceptor
receiverdetecta
detects uno
one of
2 Al detectar
When un segundo
a second satellite satélite y determinar
is detected and the
developed
Nacido comoas como
a military project, GPS
un proyecto hasyanow
militar, reached
invadió todosevery corner ofdecivilian
los ámbitos la vidalife. Today
civil, y de
thelos satélites
satellites
constelación
andde la
calculates its ydistance.
determinaThis
la
un
distancia
distance
área that
formed
se formaa una
calculated,
de intersección
segunda
second
entre
intersects with
sphereesfera
ellas.
the
is
firstLos
sphere
y

it is no
hoy notsólo
onlyesanuna
essential tool ininfaltable
herramienta ships andenaircraft,
barcosbut it is alsosino
y aviones, becoming, due volviendo
que se está to its multiple
un la distancia
distance a laradius
is the que seof a bordes
along a de esa The
circle. áreauser
forman un located
can be círculo. El
encuentra.
sphere whose Esacenter
distancia
is the usuario
anywhere puede
alongestar en cualquier
the perimeter parte
of this del
circle.
applications,
elemento a common
común tanto enfeature in vehicles como
los automóviles, as wellenaselinequipamiento
athletic and descientific equipment.
los deportistas y de los es el radio
satellite anddeonuna esfera,
whose perímetro de ese círculo.
con centro
surface the en el can
user satélite,
be
científicos, por sus múltiples aplicaciones en cuya superficie
located, although atpuede
a point
encontrarse el usuario,
yet to be determined.
aunque en un punto aún Unthird
A tercer satélite
satellite forma
forms una tercera
a third esfera
sphere that
3 que corta el
intersects thecírculo
circle en dos puntos.
at two Unoofes
points. One
no determinado.
descartado
the points ispor tratarse
ruled out as dean una posición
invalid location
imposible
(for (pora ejemplo,
example, fuera de
position above thelasurface of
Prestaciones
Features superficie terrestre). El otro es el
the Earth). The other point is the correct
Cuanto mayor
location. The morees lasatellites
cantidadused,
correcto.
de satélites
the lower
Por ser
Since un issistema
GPS dinámico,
a dynamic system,el it
GPSalsobrinda
provides detectados,
the margin ofmenor
error.es el margen de error.
también un
real-time data seguimiento
about the en tiempo real
movement, de del and
direction,
desplazamiento,
speed of the user,laallowing
direcciónfor
y la velocidad
a myriad del
of uses.
usuario, lo que permite múltiples prestaciones.

Location
11 Ubicación
The civilian user determines his or her
El usuario
position puede
using determinar su posición
three-dimensional geographic
en coordenadas
coordinates, withgeográficas
a margin ofenerror
tres between
7dimensiones,
and 50 feetcon un m)
(2-15 error de entre on
depending 2 ythe
15 metros,
quality
detects
dependiendo
of the
receptoraty any
receiver and
de los
given
en un momento dado.
de the
satélites
la calidad
que detecta
moment.
del it
satellites
Clocks
Relojes
Thanks to
Gracias data
a los received
datos from the
que reciben de los
satellites,los
satélites, civilian GPS receivers
GPS civiles also
son, al mismo
Mapas
Maps functionrelojes
tiempo, as atomic clocks(los
atómicos (the most
más precisos
2 Extrapolation
Al of the
extrapolar las coordinates
coordenadas conusing
cartas del mundo),
precise aunque
in the varias
world), decenas
although de
several
geographic charts
geográficas of cities,
de ciudades, roads,
rutas, ríos,rivers, miles de dólares
thousands más cheaper.
of dollars económicos.
oceans,espacios
mares, and airspace can
aéreos, produce
etc., a dynamic
se obtiene
map
un of the
mapa user's position
dinámico and movement.
con la ubicación en el
terreno del usuario y su desplazamiento.
DETERMINANDO LA DISTANCIA
CALCULATING DISTANCES
Tracking
Traking El desafío
Once del receptor
the GPS satellitesGPS es determinar
are detected by thecon
GPSexactitud
receiver,su
3 The user can
El usuario know
puede en the
todospeed at which
momento saberhe or the receiver's
distancia y su challenge is to precisely
posición respecto de los calculate
satélites, its
unadistance
vez detectados.
a qué
she is velocidad
traveling, se
thedesplaza,
distancelatraveled,
distanciaand the and position in relation to those satellites.
recorrida
time y el tiempo
elapsed. transcurrido.
In addition, other information is
Además, se
provided, brindan
such datos como
as average speed.velocidad
promedio, distancia recorrida, etc.
The receiver posee
El receptor has in en
itssu
memory
memoriathelas
satellites'
efeméridesephemerides
satelitales;
1 (from thelaGreek
es decir, wordde
ubicación meaning
los satélites
ephemeros, “daily”)—that
en el espacio is,
según los Each
Cadasatellite
satélite has its
posee
Recorridos
Trips their
días yposition in the sky by the hour and day.
las horas.
4 Trips can be
Se pueden programmed
programar using predetermined
recorridos mediante el
own
the
code that
un código
receiver
ayuda
helps
propio que
identify
al receptor a it.
points
empleo(waypoints). During the trip, the GPS receiver
de puntos predeterminados The code travels
identificarlo. El at the
ÍconoIcon and name
y nombre of the
del próximo Timetranscurrido
Tiempo elapsed Speed
Velocidad Upon detection
Al detectar of a
un satélite
provides information
(“waypoints”). Duranteabout theelremaining
el viaje distance
GPS informa next waypoint
2 speed
códigoofviaja
light.a la
waypoint (en este(incaso,
this de viaje satellite,
recibe una it señal
receives
de apulsos
velocidad de la luz.
acerca
to eachde la distancia
waypoint, the faltante a cada punto,
correct direction, and the case, an exit) highly complex
“on-off”, signal of
pero sumamente Satellitedel
Código code
satélite
una salida)
la direccióntime
estimated correcta y el horario de llegada.
of arrival. on-off pulses
compleja, called“código
llamada a
Distance to
Distancia the next
al próximo Direction to
Dirección al the next
próximo pseudo-random
pseudoaleatorio”. code.
waypoint
waypoint waypoint

APLICACIONES
APPLICATIONS
Althoughfue
Aunque it concebido
was originally
comodeveloped as de
un sistema a navigational
navega- empleo deofesta
free use thisherramienta dentro
tool for work, del desarrollo
business, deand portivas, de manera gratuita está provocando un
recreation,
system,
ción, GPSes
el GPS is utilizado
used todayhoyinen
a variety
camposofdiversos.
fields. The
El sports activities
actividades is changing
laborales, the wayrecreativas
empresariales, we move and act. cambio en cuanto a la manera de movernos y actuar.
y de- Satellite
Código delcode
satélite

Código del
Receiver receptor
code
The receiver recognizes the code and
3 thereceptor
exact time of each repetition
El conoce el código y la (the
3 signalexacta
hora includesde corrections to the
cada repetición (la
Theen
es, annual cost,deindólares,
millones
SPORTS
DEPORTIVOS
Informan
GPS al deportista
devices
sobre tiempos,
athlete
keep the
informed on time,
MILITARY
MILITARES
Presentes
Used en los
in remote-
sistemas de
controlled teleguiado
and
SCIENTIFIC
CIENTIFICOS
Palerontología
Used y
in paleontology,
arqueología. and
archaeology, Seguimiento
EXPLORATION
EXPLORACION
Permitenorientation
Provides
además,
and
orientarse y,
marksmarcar
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTE
Navegación
Air aérea y
and maritime
marítima. Its
navigation. Se use
expande
is
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURA
Determinación
Maps
or áreas
lessermás
de
areas of greater
o menos
fertility within
750 el
del
costo of
millions

todo
anual

entireelGlobal
aproximado
dollars,
mantenimiento
to maintain the
Sistema de
de
receiver's clock).

the lag in the

determina
since it knows
satélite
can determine
By means

satellite's
el retraso
the signal's
y, conociendo
the distance.
de la señal, la distancia.
of
señal incluye correcciones para el
comparison, the receiver determines
reloj del receptor). Por comparación
de signal,
la señaland
del
speed, it
la velocidad
Retraso
Lag
velocidades
speed, y distancias.
and distance. y de navegación.
navigational systems de animales.
animal tracking puntos depoints
reference referencia. su uso en
growing automóviles.
in automobiles. fértilesplots
different en losoflotes.
land Posicionamiento
Positioning System. Global.
36 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 37

The Computer Chip Where They Are Found

W
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
ithout this small electronic device, the majority of new technologies from the past are used inside electronic
devices. They are tiny and
few years would not exist. The computer chip is present in myriad objects used every placed on top of a copper
day. Despite its limited dimensions, each chip contains thousands or millions of sheet that is laminated
onto a plastic board.
interconnected electronic devices (mainly diodes and transistors) and also passive components
(such as resistors and capacitors). Its invention was made possible with the discovery that
semiconductor elements could accomplish the same functions as vacuum tubes but with a
much superior performance and at considerably lower cost.
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
are mounted on printed
circuit boards and are
connected via copper
What It Is SOME APPLICATIONS
pathways.

It is a thin silicon wafer that

measures less than half an inch
(1.3 cm) across and can contain several
0.02 inch HOME Microwave ovens, digital clocks

million electronic components. (0.6 mm) OFFICE Computers, calculators

is the size of the smallest COMMUNICATIONS Telephones, TV, radio
computer chip in the
world. It is used to detect TRANSPORTATION Air and land traffic control
counterfeit bills. MEDICINE Diagnostic equipment

ENTERTAINMENT Audio, video games contain the

computer chip
MILITARY Weapons
SIZE REDUCTION
Continuing improvements in the techniques of COPPER
computer-chip fabrication have allowed the PATHWAYS
development of ever-tinier electronic components.
PACKAGE
Plastic or
TRADITIONAL CHIP
TRANSISTOR can contain ceramic casing
Simple capsule millions of
transistors.
0.2 inch THE INVENTOR
(5 mm)
PINS Jack Kilby developed the
0.3 inch
0.5 inch are small metallic legs first integrated circuit in
(7 mm)
(1.3 cm) that connect the 1959. His invention had a
integrated circuit to huge impact on the
GOLD WIRES
TRANSISTOR CHIP the printed circuit. development of the
0.5 inch
A layered silicon are soldered to chip electronics industry.
(1.3 cm) Etched in the silicon, the
wafer that contains terminals and connect
transistor is a very
ACTUAL
electronic them to the pins.
SIZE effective semiconductor
device and amplifier, but components
Jack Kilby
microscopic in size. The Electrical engineer from
smallest ones measure the United States. He was
50 nanometers. awarded the Nobel Prize
HOW TRANSISTORS WORK for Physics in 2000.
Transistors act like electronic switches that are activated
and deactivated by means of an electrical signal.
Evolution of the First Integrated Circuit
ACTIVE CIRCUIT INACTIVE CIRCUIT Computer Chip
The negatively charged An electrical signal The electrical signal The current
1 (doped) silicon has atoms
3 is applied.
5 6 does not flow,
YEAR MODEL TRANSISTORS GLASS SUBSTRATE GERMANIUM WAFERS
is interrupted. This is where the contained a single transistor
with free electrons. and the circuit
is deactivated.
1971 4004 2,250 components are placed. and other circuit components
of an audio oscillator.
1978 8086 29,000

Negative silicon 1985 386 275,000 WIRE

1989 486 1,180,000 CONNECTORS
0.4 inch
1993 PENTIUM 3,100,000 (1.2 cm)
The positively charged The positively charged silicon receives free
2 (doped) silicon has atoms
4 electrons from the electrical signal, establishing 2000 PENTIUM 4 42,000,000
lacking free electrons. a current flow between areas of negative silicon
and thereby activating the circuit. 0.6 inch (1.5 cm)
38 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 39

The Computer 1

F
rom the huge calculating machines that occupied entire rooms
to today's home and laptop models, computers have 5
revolutionized how we see the world and relate to it. Today our
everyday lives are characterized by information technology, whether
for recreation, work, study, or communication. Already under 3
development are quantum computers and so-called molecular
6
computers, which are biocomputers that use DNA as the basis of
their circuits and that have the ability to replicate themselves. LAPTOP MODELS
have a rechargeable battery
and smaller dimensions. They
basically have the same
features as a PC.

The Personal Computer

is made up of various interconnected devices (the
hardware) and programs (the software). The core is a
very powerful microprocessor that contains all the devices
and is installed on the motherboard. STORAGE DEVICES
are used to save information or 4
transport information to 2
PROGRAM another computer.
is the component most closely related to
the user. It is also known as application CD/DVD READER/RECORDER
software. It allows the user to accomplish reads and also records CDs
tasks, such as processing text and images, and DVDs.
performing calculations, managing
databases, and using the Internet. HARD DISK
saves programs and folders
as permanent, magnetically
recorded data.

FLOPPY DRIVE
MONITOR reads and records information on
The images are formed by tiny cells flexible floppy disks (diskettes). How a
called pixels, which use the additive
primary colors red, green, and blue. COMPUTER TOWER Computer Works
High-resolution monitors can have an is the case that holds the main Example of the routing of information
array of up to 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. components. during a basic process

INPUT
1 Data enters the computer through a keyboard, mouse,
or modem and is interpreted by the appropriate circuit.

OPERATING SYSTEM CONNECTORS MICROPROCESSOR

Windows is the one 2 controls all computer functions. It processes the
are used to connect
most commonly used. It peripheral devices, entered data and carries out the necessary arithmetic
presents the system in a such as a modem, and logic calculations.
user-friendly way, using scanner, or printer. Essential Components
icons, folders, and RAM MEMORY
windows.
3 temporarily stores all the information and MOTHERBOARD
programs used by the microprocessor. The main printed circuit board to which all
other hardware components are connected
USB PORT PROCESSING
4 Data can travel back and forth from the CPU to the ROM MEMORY
RAM several times until processing is complete. (Read Only Memory)
Used to store the basic startup instructions
ACCESS DEVICES 5
STORAGE for the computer
Data is sent to a storage device (for
UNDERSIDE example, the hard disk). EXPANSION SLOTS
KEYBOARD OPTICAL MOUSE allow for the insertion of circuit boards to
A video camera OUTPUT incorporate more devices.
Key It is used to enter data registers controls the placement of the PARALLEL 6
(numbers, letters, and movement. cursor in the computer's The information on the monitor is updated
PORT
Conducting symbols) by sending coded graphic interface. It registers through the video card.
surface A light-emitting
signals to the microprocessor. diode (LED) any movement of the mouse
Printed When a key is pressed, a illuminates the and calculates the coordinates
circuit contact is closed. surface beneath it. of the movement.
40 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 41

The Internet
I
s a worldwide network where interconnected computers of every type can exchange
information. The social impact of the Internet is comparable to the invention of the printing
press, enabling the free flow of information and access to it from anywhere in the world. With
the appearance of blogs, the world of editing and journalism has become democratic, since virtually Transmitting Information
anyone can publish their own texts, images, and opinions. These interconnected systems share information internally
and with external users, forming networks. Information
travels from one computer to another through such a network.

INTERNET ACCESS
3 The user contacts an Internet service provider (ISP)
HOW IT IS SET UP using a modem, which may connect through phone lines
or cable; it may also connect wirelessly.
The Internet is a worldwide network in which one
participates through a service provider, which Communication TRANSMITTING COMPUTER MODEM
s satellite
1 The message is sent from here to its 2 Its name comes from TYPES OF CONNECTIONS
receives, saves, and distributes information using destination through the modem. Modulator-Demodulator.
its computer “server.” The user's computer The outgoing information Coaxial cable
connects to the Internet using a variety of is modulated and sent via Used for cable TV and
methods, programs, and devices. Satellite a conventional telephone Internet
antenna line or through a
Satellite antenna broadband connection. Fiber-optic cable
Transmits light signals.
It is faster and has higher
bandwidth (capacity).
Local telephone
switchboard Wireless
Satellite and radio-wave
International transmission through
telephone microwaves or cell phones
Internet switchboard
server International
DSL
telephone
uses telephone lines to
switchboard
provide high-speed
PC user connections.

ROUTER
Information 4 This device sends out information packets to their
Modems Modem packets destination, always choosing the shortest route (the one
Local Internet with the least traffic) by using the TCP/IP protocol.
PC user PC user telephone server
switchboard
TCP/IP PROTOCOL
THE WEB TCP separates the information into individual packets
is made up of all and assigns each one an identifier and an IP address.
the connected The latter determines the route each packet will follow.
systems.

RECEIVING COMPUTER
THE BROWSER SEARCH ENGINES 5 converts the information it receives.
is a program that allows the user to see documents on the World are tools used to find information
Wide Web and to go from one document to another using the available on the World Wide Web.
hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The most common browsers They function like a database that is Intermediate
are Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Firefox. constantly being updated by robots routers
that prowl the Web and collect
information. The most commonly
A WEB SITE OR WEB PAGE used search engines are Google and
contains a series of documents Yahoo; they also offer other services
written in hypertext markup to their users, such as e-mail and
language (HTML) combined with news updates.
other, more sophisticated
languages, such as Java and Flash
animation.

CHAT VOICE OVER IP

This service allows a group of
ELECTRONIC MAIL users to communicate with each
travels from one computer to other in real time. It started out
another through e-mail servers. It only in written form, but it is now
can carry attachments, such as possible to transmit audio and
photos or text documents. video images via webcams.
is a system that allows a computer to
communicate with a regular telephone
anywhere in the world, bypassing normal
telephone charges. It requires an Internet
connection and a program that enables this
type of communication.
42 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 43

Cinematography The First Projection

Systems

S
ince the middle of the 19th century, the desire to produce moving images has resulted in the
development of a large variety of mechanical devices, such as the praxinoscope and the zoetrope. 1400
The appearance of celluloid film allowed real images to be captured to show movement. Roger Bacon invents the magic lantern, the
first step toward the modern projector.
The introduction of sound was a revolutionary innovation, even more so than the introduction
of color. The idea of three-dimensional images has also been pursued, with mixed results. Objective lens

Today IMAX technology allows viewers to become immersed in the film they are watching. Light beam

Projected
image

IMAX Technology SOUND The light source

Image support

is the most advanced motion-picture projection system. Invented in 27,000 watts of power was an oil lamp
Canada, it is used in more than 228 movie theaters across North Sound passes through small
holes in the screen and travels
America and Europe. As of today, only four theaters have all three
throughout the whole theater.
projection systems: IMAX, Omnimax, and IMAX 3-D. 1895
The Lumière brothers invent the first
projector, inspired by a sewing machine,
Omnimax and hold a screening in Paris.

THE SCREEN
is metallic, hemispherical, and SEATS
white. It wraps over the The seats recline and the viewer
seats like a dome. It takes cannot see the edge of the Crank for
four minutes just to open it. screen, creating the feeling of advancing the
being immersed in the movie. film strip through
the projector
180º
projection
Object lens: Wheels supported
THE PROJECTOR expanded the film the film strip and
The system provides greater frame up to 35 x 24 helped advance it
image stability. inches (90 x 60 cm).

1932
Color movies appear. The Technicolor camera
superimposes three films—red, blue, and
Diameter: 100 green—to produce a color image.
feet (30 m) Projector
FRAMES
are 10 times larger than a Movie reels
traditional motion-picture frame,
providing better image definition.
Varieties MOVIE SET
French director, Lens
screenwriter, and actress
IMAX 3-D Nicole Garcia on the set
Viewers must wear glasses that allow of her movie Every Other
them to see in three dimensions. Weekend (Un Week-end
sur deux).
FLAT IMAX
uses a silver-colored flat screen, which
reflects projected light more strongly IMAX Traditional
than a white screen. frame 35-mm
frame
Size of screen in
theaters today

Equivalent to
a seven-story
building
Screen 70 feet
(21 m)

Projector
95 feet (29 m)
44 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 45

Television
3. RECEPTION

T
he origins of television date back to 1884, when Paul Nipkow invented a rotating scanning RECONSTRUCTING MOVEMENT RECONSTRUCTING THE IMAGE

disk camera for capturing moving images, but it was only in 1936 when the first modern TV The images are Each image is shown
integrated in the twice. The 30 (25)
broadcast was made in England. The invention of radar during World War II reduced the brain, resulting in the frames per second are
seen as 60 (50) fields
costs of this technology, making it accessible to the general public. In spite of its slow beginning, illusion of continuous
movement. per second.
television became an important medium for communication, greatly influencing the opinions, In interlaced-format
behaviors, and imagination of several generations. Today analog technology is being replaced by broadcasts, only half
of the display lines of
digital technology, and three-dimensional television is at the experimental stage. the image are swept
with each field. One
Each image is like a American television Each image field delivers the odd-
still photograph of a broadcasts 30 frames correlates to an numbered lines, and
single moment. per second at 60 hertz instant in time. the next delivers the
(60 times per second), even-numbered lines,
while European and so on until the
television broadcasts entire picture is

1. TAPING
The camera captures images
through its lens and sound
A VIDEO
The image is divided into a
series of horizontal lines.
B SOUND
is codified and broadcast using
the same method as the one
25 frames per second
at 50 hertz.
drawn by interlaced
scan.

through a microphone. employed in FM radio.

Each line is made up of points of
different brightness. By convention,
they are split into the three primary
colors: red, green, and blue.

2. TRANSMISSION
Images and sound are transmitted together through radio,
coaxial cable, or fiber-optic cable.
Each frequency is split between the image (AM) and the
sound (FM).

VIA SATELLITE VIA AIRWAVES VIA CABLE

Uses high-frequency Employs a system A coaxial or fiber-optic
radio waves. The signal similar to AM and cable permits the
can cover an entire FM radio reception of a large
country. number of channels.
46 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 47

The Printing Press Different Systems

These processes all require a

T
LETTERPRESS FLEXOGRAPHY SERIGRAPHY OFFSET ROTOGRAVURE
he social and cultural impact of the invention of the printing press is comparable to the printing plate or other printing The printing The printing The printing uses an aluminum The printing
surface but differ in the way they surface may be surface is surface is a printing plate covered surface is a copper-
development of language and the invention of the alphabet. It made possible the separate the printed area from the rigid or flexible. flexible. mesh screen. with photosensitive coated cylinder
establishment of a scientific community, in which knowledge can be communicated with nonprinted area. material. with tiny pits, or
cells, for the ink.
ease. In addition, it made the notion of authorship of a text more meaningful, the book
became a popular object, and the dominance of Latin ended, definitively displaced by local
tongues. According to some theorists, such as Marshall McLuhan, the press fostered the
preeminence of words over the image, changing the way we understand the world today.

Digital Printing
Systems
3. PRINTING
Ink is transferred to the
paper. The machine is
4. CUTTING AND
FOLDING
The printed spool of
5. BINDING AND
FINISHING
The pages are stapled or
equipped with a rod paper is cut, and the glued together, and knife
eliminate the need for film (used in that flips the paper over sheets are arranged so blades trim off the excess
traditional printing processes). for two-sided printing that the pages line up border to the
These machines can accomplish all the (front and back). in proper order, publication's final size.
steps of production up to delivery of the including the cover.
finished product. The development of the
digital printing systems began in the 1990s.

2. PAPER
ENTRANCE

HEWLETT
PACKARD
INDIGO PRESS

PAPER
ROLL

INKS TURNING INTERNAL PRINT DRUM CYAN

A FOLD DENSITOMETER
regulates how
much ink is
Technological Advances
transferred.

1. INFORMATION
INPUT
The information is
sent from here. The
original document is
a digital file whose
data is sent directly
to the printer.
MAGENTA
In China, multiple
copies of an image
or text were made
MOVABLE TYPE
Johannes Gutenberg
invented a printing system
Metal
LITHOGRAPHY
Invented by Alois
Senefelder in 1796,
LINOTYPE
is similar to a
typewriter.
OFFSET
is a printing technique
based on lithography
DIGITAL
Computers
eliminate the use
by carving wood. that used metal movable lithography is a It allowed mechanized that uses plates for of printing plates.
molds
type. Words were printing method typesetting and the page surface. Digital printing
assembled letter by letter based on the property composition, which Currently offset is the integrates all
INKING SYSTEM
and could be used to of immiscibility of ink until then had been a most frequently used production steps in
YELLOW compose different pages. and water. manual task. printing technique. one single machine.
The printers use four basic ink colors
to obtain the majority of colors.
Special color inks (metallic, Nondigital systems require
fluorescent, Pantone) can also be used. a separate printing plate
for each color, and each
color is printed separately. BLACK 593 Around 1450 1796 1886 1904 1990
48 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 49

The Laser THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES THE LASER LIGHT AN ELECTRON'S LEAP

LIGHT GENERATION

B
A laser is based on the is directed and has a
ased on quantum mechanics, the laser is an optical device that emits a behavior of atoms, which are predetermined wavelength. When an electron is
Electron Energy

well-defined photon beam. The result is monochromatic light that can in constant motion and can Its power resides in the struck with a burst High level
achieve different states of concentration of photons of energy, it can
have various properties depending on the purpose for which it is excitation. within a narrow beam. momentarily jump to Low level
designed. The name is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated a higher-energy
ATOM (outer) orbit.
Emission of Radiation. When lasers were invented in 1960, they were Nucleus
called a “solution in search of a problem.” They have since resolved Light
energy
myriad “problems” in the sciences, the arts, medicine, industry, and Orbit

everyday life, becoming an essential tool in modern society. THE INVENTOR

Theodore Maiman
Electron ORBITS AND THEIR ENERGY LEVELS

Year 1960 Outer orbit

This generates different types Atom Energy levels depend on the
Type Ruby laser When the electron
of energy. External stimulation proximity of the orbits to
the nucleus. The greater the returns to its
with heat, electricity, or light
It was the first working laser, can result in the conversion of distance, the higher the original orbit, it
and it was built using a ruby energy level. releases energy in
static energy to kinetic energy.
rod measuring just a few the form of a
How a Beam Is Formed centimeters across.
Nucleus Inner orbit
Low energy level photon.

Light is amplified by stimulated emission

of radiation.

The ruby rod is shown
1 with its atoms at rest.
The light from the lamp
2 stimulates the atoms.
3 is emitted by the
Ordinary red light Photons that are This process The laser beam
4 reflected in the
5 results in a cascade
6 (photons) exits the rod
atoms. interior stimulate of photons. with a uniform
other photons. wavelength, which can be
adjusted to produce
beams of different colors.

Total-reflection
mirror

Atoms in the
ruby rod

Quartz
flash tube The inner surface of the
cylinder is polished to
Partially reflect the dispersed light. Some photons The light is composed of
reflecting mirror Most photons are are lost. particles (photons) with a specific
reflected again. level of energy. The process by which
A few photons photons propagate outward to form the
escape. laser beam is called radiation.

THE LASER IN ASTRONOMY

The Starfire Observatory in New Mexico uses an
advanced laser system to stabilize star images,
eliminating the twinkling effect.
Lasers are also used in astronomy to make
measurements. In this way the distance from the Earth
to the Moon was measured with great accuracy.
ELECTRIC LIGHT
Laser light exists in nature. It is
The amount of light emitted by a produced by the light of some stars
small lamp is greater than the amount that act on surrounding gases.
of light emitted by a laser, but the
light does not have a specific
wavelength and direction.
50 BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS TECHNOLOGY 51

Holography Principles
The creation of holographic images is

B
based on the behavior of light through
ased on the optical phenomenon of interference, holography space, time, and wave interference.
is a photographic technique that allows an image to be
recorded in three dimensions on a flat surface. Holograms Resulting THE INVENTOR
was born in Budapest,
are often confused with the transmission of three-dimensional
wave
Hungary. He received the
images, particularly in science-fiction series and films, such as Star Nobel Prize for Physics
in 1971.
Trek or Star Wars. Holograms are commonly used as Wave 2
security features on credit cards, currency, and Wave 1
merchandise, because they are difficult to
counterfeit. Holography is currently being If two or more wavefronts cross
each other, interference is produced.
researched as a way to protect digital The resulting wave incorporates the
data. One of the technologies in positive and negative amplitudes of
the original waves. DENNIS GABOR
development uses high-density 1900-79
crystals to store the data. Another
While conducting
is the so-called Holographic research to improve the
Versatile Disc (HVD). resolution of the electron
microscope, Gabor
discovered a process that
recorded and reproduced
The second beam is reflected three-dimensional images.
5 by the second mirror, passes It was described in 1947,
through a diverging lens, and prior to the invention of
illuminates the the laser beam, and
photosensitive plate. became known as
holography.
Holographic
Recording
Process

6,000
is the number of CD-ROMs
needed to store the four
terabytes contained in an HVD.

A diverging beam illuminates

4 the original object, which
reflects part of the light toward
the photosensitive plate.
When the two beams meet on the photosensitive plate, they
6 produce a hologram or interference pattern. When the
The laser emits The beam is One of the two beams is reflected by hologram is illuminated again by the reference beam, the
1 a beam.
2 split in two.
3 a mirror and dispersed by means of a original object image is re-created.
lens, thereby illuminating the object.
The second beam is directed at
another mirror.
Science and Health
A
t one time, the practice of
medicine was more of an
artisan's craft than a science
and involved just a few tools to
cure people. Around 500 years
ago, due to remarkable scientific and
technical advances, medicine became a
technological discipline. Because of this
development, life expectancies increased
significantly, and remedies that before
LASER EYE SURGERY
At one time considered a revolutionary
technique, this technology has now
become so commonplace and simple that
it can even be performed at malls, with
the public able to watch the procedure.
might have been considered miraculous
became commonplace. Obviously the
story is not over yet, and there is still
much to be accomplished, but advances,
such as robotic surgery, where a doctor
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING 54-55 BIONIC IMPLANTS 62-63
POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY 56-57 ROBOTIC SURGERY 64-65
4-D ULTRASOUND 58-59 ARTIFICIAL HEART 66-67
IN VITRO FERTILIZATION 60-61
performs surgery remotely, or the use of
magnetic resonance equipment that can
detect tumors in soft tissue, are very
important.
54 SCIENCE
68 ANDYHEALTH
C3 CIENCIA SALUD ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECHNOLOGY 69
TECNOLOGÍA 55

ula

Magnetic Resonance
Resonancia magnética M
m
ltéecr
Woa laegcuale
deo

O H
EL HIDRÓGENO
HYDROGEN
Los átomos
Hydrogen atoms
especialmente
EN EL
IN THE CUERPO
BODY
de hidrógeno
en el agua
están
are present
up 70(70%
presentes
in almost en casi and
all tissues
del cuerpo)
todos
y en and
los tejidos
fluids,
las grasas.
y fluidos;
especially in

Imaging (MRI)
water (which makes percent of the body) in fat.

G
racias a una sofisticada tecnología que combina campos magnéticos y El átomo
The de hidrógeno
hydrogen atom Classification
Clasificación
ondas de radio es posible obtener imágenes de alta calidad de los tejidos is
Esthe simplest element
el elemento más Por su estructura
Because of its ++ A lo
A largo
magnetic
del eje de
dipole is
It also spins
Además, Low-energy
Núcleos de bajanuclei.

T
of nature.
sencillo de la naturaleza. física, el structure,
physical protón del around a
orbita sobre The spin and the de
Los ejes
blandos
hanks to del interior del cuerpo
a sophisticated humano,
technology thatsin otra molestia
combines magneticpara el paciente
fields and rotación se
created
energía.

que laradio
de permanecer
waves, it is possible to render high-quality images of soft tissuedeinla
quieto por unos minutos. Otro punto revolucionario H It
and
has un
Tiene
y unone
justsólo
oneprotón
electron
electrón
proton(+)
(-). (-).
(+) átomo
the de hidrógeno
hydrogen
gira sobre
atom's su propio
proton
generathe
along
dipolo
axis of
magnético
rotation.
un second
like
axis, eje
un segundo
a top,
describiendo
precession
in the same
tienen
axis rotate
spin y de preseción
direction.
el mismo sentido.
eje. Esto
spins genera
on its axis. un traveling
un cono
técnica
theeshuman
que nobody
requiere del uso
without de líquidos to
inconvenience dethe
contraste
patient,niother
de rayos
thanX,the
como Electrón
Electron
campo
This magnético
generates a Proton
Protón within a
(“precesión”), Núcleos de alta
High-energy nuclei.
en el caso defor
requirement lasthe
placas radiográficas
patient to remainostill
de for
la tomografía computada
a few minutes. Another
H que lo hace
magnetic field conelike
al igual que lo The Los ejes
spin and
energía. the de
-- susceptible
that de
will interact (precession)
que hace un spin y de preseción
precession axis
revolutionary feature of this technique is that it does not require the use of +
reaccionar
with ante otro
an external Campo
Magnetic trajectory.
trompo. Eje de Precession giran en
rotate in sentido
opposite
contrast agents or the use of X-rays, as is the case for Proton
Protón
campo magnético
magnetic
externo.
field. Rotación
Rotation - magnético
field precesión axis opuesto.
directions.

radiography or computerized tomography.

El escáner por dentro HUNTING FORÁTOMOS
CACERÍA DE ATOMS
Para construir una imagen de los Planos
Planes
tejidos blandos del cuerpo humano, El hidrógeno
Con la técnica
Magnetic de resonancia
resonance magnética
imaging can generatees 11 Hydrogen in
Inside a Scanner
el escáner rastrea los átomos de hidrógeno
presentes en todos ellos. Para detectar los
posible obtenerimages
cross-sectional imágenes de cortes
at any dethe
point in en elbody
the cuerpo
human body
cualquier anddel
punto in any plane.
cuerpo humano y prácticamente
átomosToprimero
render sean los
image of the
somete soft tissue in the
a un The
Los axes of
ejes de
human body, the machine scans en cualquier plano de orientación.
poderoso campo magnético y luego se for
los the precession
precesión seareorientan
hydrogen
excita conatoms
ondas indethese tissues. To detect
radiofrecuencia. Así, the randomly oriented in
en diferentes
atoms,
los the area
átomos is initiallyasubjected
son obligados to a powerful
liberar energía different directions.
direcciones, al azar.
magnetic
que field and
es captada por later stimulated
el escáner using radio-
y convertida
Profile
Cortecross section
de Perfil
frequency
en imágenes. waves. This process causes the atoms
to release energy that is then detected by the
scanner and converted into images. Magnetic
Campo field
magnético
Magnetismo
2 Magnetism
Magneto superconductor
Construido con una aleación de Unstrong
A fuertemagnetic
campo field
Niobio y Titanio, posee magnet
Superconducting magnético
helps to linepermite
up the
propiedades superconductoras alinear todos
precession losinejes
axes thede
The magnet,
cuando made outaof-269°
es refrigerado a niobium-
C. precesión
same en un mismo
direction.
titaniumunalloy,
Genera becomes
poderoso a
campo sentido.
superconductor
magnético whenlos
que alinea it isprotones
cooled to
-452° F (-269°antes
C). Itde
generates a Cortecross
Frontal de frente
section
de hidrógeno, ser
powerful magnetic
bombardeados con field
ondasthatde lines up
the hydrogen protons prior to their
radiofrecuencia.
being stimulated with the radio waves.
Magnetic
Campo field
magnético
3 Stimulation
Exitación
Sistemas refrigerantes
Cooling systems Luego,energy
Next, se aplica
in the
Además de compensar el enorme calor
energía
form en forma
of radio wavesde Radio
Ondas
generado
In additionpor
to el electromagnetismo,
compensating for the waves
de radio
ondas
is de radiofre-
applied, and
enfrían
enormousel magneto
amounts principal a -269° C
of heat generated
cuencia. Losprotons
low-energy protones
para
by thedarle propiedades de
electromagnetic equipment,
de baja itenergía
absorb la
to become
superconducción.
these systems coolEnthe general se utilizato
main magnet Top cross
Corte section
de arriba absorben y se
high-energy con-
protons.
helio
-452°líquido como
F (-269° refrigerante.
C) to turn it into a
vierten en protones de
superconductor. Liquid helium is
alta energía.
generally used as the cooling agent.
Bobinas de
gradientes magnéticos
Magnetic gradient coils Magnetic
Campo field
magnético
Generan
generatecampos magnéticos
secondary magneticsecundarios
fields that,
4 Relajación
Relaxation
que, al combinarlos
together con el principal,
with the superconducting When transmission
Al interrumpirse of
la emisión
permiten tomar imaging
magnet, enable imágenes ofdel interior del
different radio waves
de ondas de stops, the
radio, los
cuerpo humano
planes of en diferentes
the human body. planos. low-energy
protones deprotons return
baja energía
to their previous
retornan state.
a su situación
While they
anterior. relax, they
Mientras se
Radio-frequency
Transmisor de release theliberan
¨relajan¨, energylathey
energía
transmitter
radiofrecuencia (RF) have absorbed.
que habían absorbido.
emits radio
Emite signals
mediante unathrough
bobina atransmisora
transmitting
(antena) coil de
señales (antenna) to excitar a
radio para
stimulate
los átomosthe
dehydrogen
hidrógenoatoms that bajo
alineados High Magnetism
Alto magnetismo
are efectos
los aligned del
by the
campomagnetic field. Al
magnético. The
El magnetic
campo field generated
magnético by MRI
que generan los Análisis
5 Analysis
When the stimulation
interrumpir stops,
la excitación, los the
átomos scanners de
escáners tends
IRM tosuele
be tens
serof thousands
decenas de
atoms release
liberan energíaenergy
que es that is captured
interpretada y of times
miles de more
veces powerful than the
más poderoso que el Esa energía
This releasedliberada
energy es interpretadabypor
is interpreted theel
and used topara
procesada formformar
the image.
la imagen. campo magnético
magnetic delEarth.
field of the planeta Tierra. escáner
MRI de IRM
scanner para images.
to form formar las imágenes.
 SCIENCE
56 C3 SALUDAND HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECNOLOG ÍA 57
57

Tomografía
Positron por emisión
Emission Luminous
Una
Collision
Choque luminoso
Oncevez
emite
eniselinside
FDG interior
positrones
it is absorbed
thedel
andmientras
cuerpo
body delpatient,
of the paciente,
es absorbida
metabolized. Thanks to
la glucosa
it emits FDG as
positrons
y metabolizada.
the emission of Gracias
-
-
44
Enthe
In el resto dethe
rest of
estructurasofdel
structures
los electrones
many
de encontrarse
susceptible
los tissues
tejidos yand
thecuerpo abundan
body, there
libres,that
free electrons
are
susceptibles
are
con los positrones
to encountering
emitidos por
positrons la FDG.
emitted by the FDG.

de positrones(PET)
Tomography (PET) a esta emisión,
positrons,

Molécula
Glucose
de glucosa
molecule
el proceso
the process can puede

3
ser seguido
be followed porscan.
in a PET

Within
Dentro the
positrons,
el tomógrafo PET.

de laFDG
positrones.which
molecule,
molécula
are de
Se trata
fluor-18
de FDG,
thepartículas
antimatter
emits emite
El Flúor-18
de antimateria
55
Cuandoanunelectron
When
negativa)
charge)
electrón(with
choca with
collides
(carga
con un
a negative
positrón
a positron

JA
equivalent
equivalentesof aelectrons. In En
electrones. other words,
otras palabras, los (cargaapositiva),
(with ambas partículas
positive charge), both
sí como
ust la tomografía
as computed computada
tomography común yresonance
and magnetic la resonancia magnética
imaging are positronesare
positrons sonelectrons
electrones que,
that en alugar de tener
have
- Electrón
Electron
se aniquilan
particles areyannihilated
toda su masaandse
all
carga negativa,
positive instead poseen carga positiva.
of a negative charge. convierte
their massen energía.into energy.
changes
son los métodosdiagnostic
well-established diagnósticos indiscutibles
methods a la hora
for studying de estudiar
internal structures Concretamente,
More precisely, theen mass
dos fotones
changes
ofestructuras
the body, PETinternas
has indel cuerpo
recent humano,
years become la tomografía PET se ha
the most sophisticated Positrón
Positron Ra (rayos
into gamma)
two gamma-rayque son emitidos
photons that
Gayos en direcciones
are opuestas,directions,
emitted in opposite en un
convertidofor
technique enstudying
los últimos años en laprocesses
biochemical técnica más sofisticada
in patients para
in real el
time. m G
m am ángulo
at 180ºde 180º.
from each other.
estudio de procesos
Specialists can use itbioquímicos
to determine enhow
pacientes
tissuesvivos
in they patient's
en tiempobodyreal. En + ar m
ay a
s
otras
are palabras,
working andpermite
therebyaobtain
los especialistas determinar
precise diagnoses cómo or
of cancer trabaja Fluor-18
Fluor-18 Estos "flashes"
These flashes aresoncaptured
captados andy
neurological
el cuerpo de disorders,
un paciente which are difficult
y obtener así precisos diagnósticos de Electrón
Electron 66 amplificados
amplified porPET
in the el tomógrafo
scan to
PET, que determina
determine the position la posición
and y
to determine
cáncer with other neurológicas,
o enfermedades methods. muy difíciles de la intensidad de
concentration oflas
FDG moléculas
molecules de
determinar con otros métodos + FDGto
and y, track
por lothem
tanto,within
su compor-
the
tamientobody.
patient's en el interior
The PETdel cuerpo
scan
del paciente.
processor El converts
then procesador, thisluego,
Positrón
Positron
Glucose
La glucosa
isEs
thelamain source of energy in cells.
90% Ra
Gayo
ms G
m am
convierte toda
information intoesta
en imágenes en colores.
información
color images.

de For this The percentage of ar m

the
reason,
cuerpo
principal
Por eso,
bodyhumano
tells a great
fuente
theestudiar
study ofcómo
de energía
how se
deal about
dice mucho
glucose
sobre
comporta
metabolism.
las células.
is being used
dentro delin
Anomalies
el metabolismo. Las
90% correct PET-derived
diagnoses of cancer,
ay a
s
inanomalías
metabolism en can be related topueden
el metabolismo important diseases,con
relacionarse Es elincluding early-stage de
nivel de diagnósticos
such as malignant tumors and Alzheimer's disease.
importantes dolencias, como los tumores malignos, o el cancers
cáncer correctos, incluso en
Mal de Alzheimer, entre otros ejemplos. fases tempranas, que se obtiene
con las tomografías PET.
Hidrógeno Carbono Oxígeno
Hydrogen Carbon Oxygen

En la sangre
In the blood

Amplificador
Photon
deamplifier
fotones
Siguiendo la marca
Following the Tracer
Para estudiar el comportamiento de
la glucosa
order todentro del behavior
cuerpo esofnece-
5 mm
tolos
tag
In
sario imprimirle
glucose in the
científicos
study the
una body,
"marca"
it with a detectarla.
tracer so that
it isque permita a
necessary
Poritello,
canse
be
0.2 inch (5 mm)
Es la mínima resolución de los
tomógrafos PET. Esto quiere decir que
aquellos tumores malignos más pequeños
prepara una
detected. glucosa
Glucose withradiactiva, que tracer
a radioactive al ser The minimum resolution of a PET scan.
son invisibles con esta técnica.
isinyectada en elthe
injected into cuerpo, se comporta
body for y es
this purpose. Molécula
Glucose Malignant tumors that are smaller than
Itmetabolizada
is metabolized comolike glucosa
ordinarycomún,
glucoseaunque de glucosa
molecule this cannot be detected by this technique.
es fácilmente
and visible para
readily observable in a el
PETtomógrafo
scan. PET.

Laglucose
glucosamolecule
es tratada
Images
Las imágenes
The is con un Fluor-18
Fluor-18
11 isótopowith
treated radiactivo
partículas).
isotope
(que emite
a radioactive
Habitualmente
(a type of unstable se
Los tomógrafos
PET
malignos
and
PETuseful
scans are very son muy
y patologías
neurological
forútiles
neurológicas
pathologies,
para diagnosticar
diagnosing
such como
tumores
malignant tumors
el mal de disease
as Alzheimer's Alzheimer
or o
anatomical
informaciónand
scan cande
informa provide
structural
anatómica information
y estructural
information
su actividad
delfor internal
órgano
aboutymetabolic
metabólica bioquímicaand
organs, alaPET
examinado,
biochemical
y de
PET
cómo actúan
utilizaFluor-18
atom). Flúor-18,isaunque
typically el mal de Parkinson.
Parkinson's disease. Mientras
Whereas una tomografía
computed computarizada
tomography aporta
can provide activity and how
los fármacos medicineso act.
de contraste sustancias radiactivas.
también
used, puede
though emplearse
carbon-11,
Carbono-11, Oxígeno-15
oxygen-15, and nitrogen-13 o
Nitrógeno-13.
can also be used.
NORMAL WITH ALZHEIMER'S
CON ALZHEIMER
This image muestra
La imagen shows the la
DISEASE
En esta imagen puede apreciarse
La radioactively
The glucosa radiactiva
tagged metabolic activity of aen un
actividad metabólica con claridad,
This en lasshows
image clearly zonas areas
oscuras,
22 (usualmente
glucose (in thisFlúor-18
case
deoxiglucosa FDG) or
fluorodeoxyglucose, es
normal
cerebrobrain.
cells consume
nerviosas
TheLas
normal. nerve
células
large elevados
consumen
el bajo
that areíndice
glucosa, una
indicating
de metabolismo
completely dark,
thecaracterística
de
de la
low level of glucose
inyectada
FDG) en elin
is injected paciente
the que amounts
niveles deofglucosa.
glucose. enfermedad that
metabolism de Alzheimer.
is characteristic
será sometido
patient al estudio.
under study. of Alzheimer's disease.
58 SCIENCE AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGY 59

4-D Ultrasound Motor

turns the
transducers in an
How It Works
Although the result of the exam is a moving image of a fetus in color, the ultrasound
machine does not use optical equipment but only sound waves reflected by the baby.

I
80º arc about 20 This imaging method is generally not considered to pose a risk for the fetus or the mother.
s the latest word in diagnostic examinations in obstetrics. Ultrasound imaging in four times per second.
dimensions incorporates time as a new variable, and it produces color images in real time
Emission
that give the impression of watching a movie of a baby as it is growing inside the uterus. 1 The transducer emits
However, it is not a movie properly speaking but the sweep of ultrasonic waves that are ultrasonic waves at
specific frequencies that
reflected as echoes by the fetus. These echoes are analyzed and converted into images by will pass through
powerful processors that perform mathematical calculations. The use of 4-D ultrasound external tissues into the
uterus where the baby is.
has not yet been completely embraced by doctors, many of whom prefer traditional A motor varies the plane
two-dimensional ultrasounds for their exams. of the emitted waves
many times a second to
produce three-
dimensional images.

The Ultrasonic Window

The ultrasound machine uses a handheld probe that is moved over
the mother's abdomen. The probe contains transducers that emit
ultrasonic (high-frequency) waves that pass through the abdomen and
bounce off the baby, creating echoes. These reflected waves are
detected by the transducer and then converted into images.
Fluid-filled
chamber
The liquid improves
the efficiency of the
transmission of
ultrasonic sound
waves.
Echo
2 The ultrasonic waves
collide with and
bounce from fetal
tissues. The
frequencies used are
inaudible to the
human ear.
20 to
20,000 3
Reception
The transducer receives the
hertz waves reflected from the
tissues of the fetus. Depending
on their characteristics and
The range of frequencies
how they were modified, the
that humans can hear.
processor extracts information
Ultrasound imaging uses
from the reflected waves and
frequencies that range from
converts them into moving
1,500,000 hertz to
images in real time.
60,000,000 hertz.

Transducers
There are usually Development
128. They both emit
ultrasound waves Ultrasound imaging technology has developed in recent years from producing somewhat
and also receive confusing multicolored pictures to movielike images of the fetus in the uterus.
those waves that
are reflected back. 2-D ULTRASOUND 3-D ULTRASOUND
is for obstetrics the ultrasound- yields a static three-dimensional image of
imaging method par excellence. the fetus. It can be used to identify
Although it is much less spectacular structural malformations and even facial
than more modern methods, doctors features. The image is produced by obtaining
prefer it because it provides cross- a series of parallel cross-sectional views
sectional views of the fetus from any along the length of the fetus. These views
angle, which is helpful in examining its are then processed mathematically to
internal structures. produce the three-dimensional image.

4-D ULTRASOUND
High-speed processors make it

5,000 possible to obtain a number of

3-D ultrasound images within a
fraction of a second and to
The times per second that the perform the mathematical
transducer emits ultrasonic calculations needed to generate
waves and detects the waves the images of the fetus in motion.
that are reflected by the fetus
66 SCIENCE
60 C3 AND
CIENCIA Y HEALTH
SALUD ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECHNOLOGY
TECNOLOGÍA 61
67

Fábrica de bebés
A Baby Factory Back into the
De regreso Uterus
al útero
In Vitro Fertilization
Fecundació n in vitro Oncevez
Una theidentificados
selected,
aptos,
most suitable
sonthey
laboratoriowith
laboratory
loseggs
are fertilized
fertilizados
con espermatozoides
are más
óvulos
en unin a
the sperm of the del futuro
future

D
E
padre. and
Obtenidos
either los embriones, pueden
ver
esdesince the first
el primer successful
caso exitoso encase of in
Gran vitro fertilization
Bretaña hace casi tresin the United la
décadas, Kingdom almost
fecundación in three decades
vitro se ha father
ser insertados
mother’s
inserted
uterusenorelfrozen
into the
útero for
de la
usemadre
at a o
UTERUS
ÚTERO

ago, this technique

convertido en el máshaspopular
becomey the most popular
difundido and widespread
de los métodos methodasistida.
de fertilización of assisted reproductive
Consiste, congelados
later time. para hacerlo más adelante.
technology. It involves
fundamentalmente, enremoving a woman’s
extraer óvulos de lasova, or eggs,
mujeres and fertilizing them
y espermatozoides with
de los sperm youtside
hombres lograr the La muestra de semen
The semen sample obtained from
woman’s
la womb;eninun
fecundación fact, the procedure
laboratorio, fuera isdel
done in a materno,
cuerpo laboratoryparato avoid various
saltear problems
diversos that can
obstáculos que hinder a obtenida
the fatherdel padre estotratada
is treated para
separate
Día 6 6a to
Days 18 18
separar los espermatozoides
the spermatozoa and to
natural pregnancy.
pueden impedir un Once
embarazofertilized, theUna
natural. embryo is implanted
vez obtenido in the uterus
el embrión to continue
es implantado gestation.
en el útero paraOver time, y elegir
select thelosbest
mejores.
ones. Implantation
Implantación
in vitro fertilization
continuar techniques
la gestación. have become
Con el tiempo, more de
las técnicas efficient, and ininthe
fertilización pastsefew
vitro hanyears,
vueltothe
másnumber of The selected embryos
Los embriones
several
(suelen are selected
ser varios
(usually
seleccionados
to aumentar
para increase the
successfulypregnancies
eficientes en los últimoshasaños,
seen el
a seven-fold increase. Today
índice de embarazos in vitro
exitosos llegafertilization
a multiplicarcan besiete
por combined with La cabeza
The head ofdel chances of success)son
las probabilidades) aretransferidos
transferred
other
al techniques
de los primerostodías.
increase the chances
Esta técnica of conception.
hoy puede combinarse con otras para aumentar las espermatozoide
the spermatozoon
contiene DNA
contains el ADN,
that,que
to the mother’s
al útero
catheter
uterus
de la madre
inserted un
vagina, utilizando
through
a través
intocatéter.
deala
the vagina.
Trophoblast
Tropoblasto
Outer cells
Células develop
externas.
Embryoblast
Embrioblasto
Inner
Célulascells
internas.
posibilidades de que se produzca la concepción al
in combinarse
combinationcon el
with the placenta.
Desarrollan la placenta. Desarrollan
develop the el feto.
fetus.
ADNegg’s
the del óvulo, creará
DNA, will
create
un nuevoa new life.
individuo.
La fecundación
Fertilization El
Theembrión
embryo 12 horas
After 12 hours

1,000,000
1.000.000 takes place en
Se produce
cultivation
la temperatura
dish
humanoat the
in auna
medium
y bañada
special
placa, a
in a petri
del cuerpo
same temperature
en un
From
A thisdemoment,
partir
monitored
embrión
personnel.
por
the embryo
este momento,
esand
monitoreado
If it médico.
el personal developsSi
el is
cared for ybycuidado
medical
the first cellular
Se produce
division
primera takes
The
la
división
embryo
celular.
place.
now
El embrión
isEsthe approximate
el número numberde
aproximado of babies as the de
medio human body.
cultivo especial. successfully,
progresa, it will become
se convertirá en una bebé.
baby. consists
ahora tieneof two
dos cells.
throughout the world
niños concebidos por that
este have The number
células. of cellsde
El número
been conceived
método en todothrough this method
el mundo increases
células aumenta
since
desdethe first-known
el primer caso,case in 1978.
en 1978. exponentially
exponencialmente every
12 to 12
cada 15 ahours.
15 horas.

UTERUS
ÚTERO

OVARY
OVARIO

Glándula
Pituitary
gland
pituitaria Óvulo
Egg
Generates
Genera hormones
hormonas
thatestimulan
que stimulatelathe
developmentdel
maduración ofóvulo.
the egg

En busca defor
Searching ovarios
Eggs
The
El first step
primer pasoinpara
achieving
lograr in
unavitro fertilization
fertilización in is
to obtain
vitro good eggs
es obtener in sufficient
óvulos aptos y ennumbers
cantidadto be
fertilized. para ser fecundados.
suficiente Día 3
Day 3
When Cuando
the embryo reachestiene
el embrión
Normalmente,
Usually a woman la At En
thisesta etapa la
stage, Once they
Una vezmature,
maduros, between 16 16
entre andy 64 cells, it se
células is lo
11 mujer produce
produces
óvulo apto
suitable
one un
eggpor
each
22 themujer
woman es is
monitoreada
monitored with
33 the los
eggs
extracted
are son
óvulos
through
extraídos
called denomina
a morula (from the Latin
mórula.
word morus, meaning “mulberry”).
ciclo (28
cycle días).
(every 28 mediante
ultrasound follicular aspiration.
mediante una Día55
Day
Mediante
days). el uso
By using ecografías
scans and bloody A needle connected
aspiración
When it surpasses
Al superar las 6464 cells,se
células the embryo en
convierte becomes a blastula.
blástula.
de hormonas
stimulating análisis
tests to de sangre to afolicular.
suction A la
A large cavity
Una gran formsse
cavidad informa
the middle. At thisEn
en el medio. phase,
esta the
estimulantes
hormones, se
several para determinar
determine her instrument
mujer is
embryo
fase yacan be transferred
puede to the
ser transferido woman’s
al útero uterus.
materno.
logra obtener
more eggs can be los niveles
hormonal inserted throughsethe
anestesiada le
varios más.
obtained. hormonales.
levels. vagina and una
inserta usedaguja
to
extract
con eggs
un from
bothinstrumento
ovaries. de
succión por vía Las probabilidades
Success Rates
ICSI
ICSI
is the
Son lasacronym
siglas enfor a technique
inglés knownllamada
de una técnica as Inyección
vaginal con el que
se obtienen
óvulos de ambos
of éxito
El in vitro
the age
edad
delfertilization
de of
losaóvulos
patient’s
are determined
método depende
de eggs.
una paciente.
byfactores.
de diversos differentEntre
factors, including
ellos, de la

Between one and six

Intracytoplasmic Sperm
Intracitoplasmática Injection, whichque
de Espermatozoides, hasrevolucionó ovarios.
Para
For auna mujer dewoman,
35-year-old 35 años,statistics
las estadísticas
show 5 soneggs
Five inviables
are not suitable. 5 no eggs
Five seránwill
fecundados
not be fertilized. 1 a 6 implantados
implanted podrían
eggs could generar
produce un bebé
a baby.
los tratamientosinfertility
revolutionized de infertilidad en losinúltimos
treatment recent años.
years. dicen que one
that only sóloof unevery
óvulo16
deeggs
cadawill
16 develop
puede
Consiste en inyectar
It consists directamente
of injecting los espermatozoides
the spermatozoon directly en progresar
and result yingenerar un embarazo.
a pregnancy.
VAGINA los óvulos
into duranteduring
the ovaries la fecundación in vitro.
in vitro fertilization.
 62 SCIENCE
56 C3 ANDYHEALTH
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TECNOLOGÍA 63
57

Implantes
Bionic Biónicos
Implants Mitad
Half
Half
mitad
hombre,
Human,
Machine
máquina

H
U
astaahace
ntil muy pocas
few decades décadas,
ago, the onlylaoption
única solución para las
for amputees waspersonas amputadas
the use of rigid and Entre lothe
Among numerosos
avances que
advances
numerous
se avecinan
forthcoming in
pasaba por las wood
uncomfortable rígidasprostheses.
y molestasToday
prótesis de beginning
at the madera. Hoy, recién
of the 21stcomenzado
century, theel paranext
the los próximos
few years,años, ademásto
in addition
siglo XXI,
dream el sueño
of being abledetomiembros artificiales
use artificial conectados
limbs that mediante
are connected el sistema
through the de brazos
bionic armsy and
en desarrollo
products
piernas
legs,biónicas
venas,from
stemming
are:
arterias,
the
hay

nervioso system—with
nervous -capaces de responder órdenes
the capability directas del to
of responding cerebro- está a punto
direct commands de hacerse
from the órganos y músculos
development artificiales;
of artificial veins,
realidad. Por
brain—is lo menos,
at the point ofexisten prototipos
becoming reality.experimentales
At least there muy avanzados
are very advanceden esa así comoorgans,
arteries,
y sordos,
eyes
ojos y oídos
un chip
and ears
para ciegos
and muscles;
for permitirá
the blind anda los
dirección y prótesis
experimental ya disponibles
prototypes along thosecomercialmente
lines, and there con
are habilidades y cualidades
already commercially available cuadriplégicos
deaf; recuperar
microprocessors thatsus
funcionalidades,
enable y hasta
quadriplegics un
to recover
sorprendentes;
prostheses withalgunas, incluso,
surprising quewhich
features, superan las decases
in some los miembros naturales
are superior to human limbs. dispositivo
the paralimbs;
use of their eliminarandeleven
dolora
en pacientes
device crónicos.
to eliminate chronic pain.

Casi ciencia
Almost ficción
Science Fiction
Nerve
Nerviosa
The experimental
El brazo bionic arm developed
biónico experimental by the
desarrollado porRehabilitation
el Instituto deInstitute of
Recuperación Eje deelevation
Arm elevación
Chicago
de Chicagois one of theesmost
(EE.UU.) advanced
lo más cercanomodels yet made.implante
a un verdadero It can interpret
biónico jamás del brazo
axis
commands from
desarrollado. the interpretar
Puede brain so that the patient
órdenes can regain
del cerebro que lethe full functionality
permiten of
al paciente Sensores
Sensors
recuperar la plena
the limb that funcionalidad del miembro perdido.
was lost.
Rotor
Arm
del brazo
motor
Los
The cirujanos
surgeons redireccionan los
take the nerves
1 nervios
that were
el
armbrazo
queconnected
se conectaban
andyredirect
to thecon
los implantan
them toen Computadora
Computer
músculos
muscles ofdel tórax.
the thorax.

Cuandothe
When el person
pacientefitted
piensa
withen the
2 una acción,
device wills como mover
an action el
involving Rotor del
Elbow codo
motor
Músculo
Deltoid
brazo,
the la such
arm, mano,asunraising
dedo, the
etc.,arm,
la orden deltoides
muscle
the hand,viaja
or a por los nervios
finger, the y
provoca pequeñas
command travels through the
contracciones
nerves, específicas
which produce en el
small,
1
tórax. contractions in the
precise
thorax muscles.
Músculos
Thorax
Dichas contracciones son
3 These contractions
captadas
detected
are de
por una serie
by a series que
sensores especiales, of sensors Articulación
Elbow joint
del tórax
muscles

that transmit
transmiten laselectrical
señales signals del codo
to the computer
eléctricas in the
a la computadora del
prosthetic
brazo. arm.

La computadora
The computer then ordena
4 al brazothe
directs realizar
movimientos
motorslosto Rotor
Wristde
make the armespecíficos.
perform lamotor
muñeca
the desired motion.
Muñeca
Flexible
flexible
wrist

La pierna inteligente
The AIntelligent Foot
diferencia del brazo biónico, el "Proprio Foot",
desarrollado por Ossur y ya disponible
comercialmente,
In contrast tonothe
interpreta órdenes
bionic arm, del cerebro,
the Proprio sino
Foot (which
que conjuga los movimientos
was developed musculares
by the prosthesis de quien
company lo and is
Ossur
utiliza con elavailable)
commercially tipo de terreno y deinterpret
does not marcha commands
para from
reemplazar
the las funciones
brain. Instead de unathe
it reproduces pierna con laofmayor
functions the human
fidelidad
foot posible.
by taking into account the terrain and the user’s
movements and gait.

Funcionamiento
Operation
Un acelerómetro (medidor de vibraciones) analiza los
A device called an accelerometer records the
movimientos de la pierna unas 1000 veces por
movement of the leg about 1,000 times each second.
segundo. Los datos son interpretados por una
The computer uses the data to make the appropriate
computadora que ordena los ajuste adecuados.
adjustments of the mechanisms in the foot.

Versatilidad
Versatility
El Proprio Foot puede rotar, elevarse y
The Propriode
ajustarse Foot
tal can turn,
forma queflex up and down,
la marcha sea lo
and
máscarry out adjustments
confortable thatalmake
posible, aún walking
caminar en
comfortable,
pendientes oeven when
al subir going upque
escaleras, a slope or
suelen
climbing stairs—situations
convertirse en obstáculos that
para tend to be
las personas
difficult for amputees.
amputadas.

Automatización
Automation
In
En general,
general it
noisesnot necessary
necesario quefor
the user torealice
el usuario make any adjustments
ajustes, ya que
because thedetecta
la prótesis prosthesis
y analiza
automatically
automáticamente detects and analyzes
cualquier
changing
cambio y situations
realiza los and continually
ajustes
Always
SiempreAlert
alerta makes its own adjustments.
constantemente.

El
TheProprio
ProprioFoot
Footseresponds,
ajusta, sinwithout
que el usuario se lothe
input from ordene, a situaciones
user, to such
como el estar
situations sentado
as being en una
seated in asilla
chairo el
or subir
goingoupbajar escaleras.
or down stairs.

Sitting
Sentado On
En lastairs
escalera
La
Forprótesis
greater lleva el
comfort, Cuando
When la prosthesis
the prótesis detecta
extremo del piebends
the prosthesis hasta más de two
detects dos escalones
stair steps in
hacer contacto
the foot so thatcon
its el seguidos, rota
succession, el tobillo
it rotates the
suelo,
forwardpara
tipmayor
comodidad.
the ground.
touches para acomodar
ankle
the
to place the
proper
posición
el pie
footen
position.
adecuada.
inla
600
million
millones
The
Es elnumber
númeroofdepersons
personasworldwide
en todo
who have que
el mundo somepadecen
type of algún
disability.
tipo
de discapacidad.
The figure accountsLa for
cifra
10equivale
percent
al 10%
of de la population.
the world población del planeta.
70 SCIENCE
64 C3 ANDY HEALTH
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TECNOLOGÍA 65
71

Roboticrobó
Cirugía Surgery
tica El robot
The Robot
obeys thelas
Obedece
desde
surgeon's
órdenesinstructions
la consola.
the console.
que le da el sent
Sus brazos
Its arms con amplia
have ample
from
cirujano
freedom

ET
libertad
of de movimientos
movement and hold they provistos de
surgical instruments
he usedeofrobots
l uso robotspara
to perform
realizar surgeries stopped
intervenciones being a dejó
quirúrgicas instrumentos
used especializados
to perform realizan el trabajo.
the operation.
science-fiction
de ser una promesafantasy and became
cercana a reality
a la ciencia aboutpara
a ficción 10
years ago, when
convertirse en unatherealidad
first surgeries
desde haceof this
unoskind
diezwere
años,
performed. During unassisted
cuando se llevaron robotic surgery,
a cabo las primeras cirugíasthedesurgeon
este tipo.works
Durante
from a computer
una operación console while
robotizada, a robot
el cirujano with special
trabaja desde unaarmsconsola
operates
de
directly
realidadon the patient.
virtual, mientras This
untype
robotofcon
surgery
brazosenables the surgeon
especializados to
interviene The robotfiltra
El robot filters
los
operate remotely
directamente on patients
al paciente. Estalocated across
modalidad, thepermite
que world by using a incluso,
al cirujano, out the surgeon's
movimientos
abrupt
bruscosmovements
y temblores
high-bandwidth
operar a un pacienteconnection.
ubicadoRobotic
al otro surgery
lado deloffers
planetanumerous
mediante conexiones de or
delhand tremors,
médico,
advantages, such as extreme precision of the incisions
banda ancha, ofrece innumerables ventajas, como una extrema (hand precisión en making
haciendothe
more
surgery
más
efficient.
eficiente la cirugía.
movements are scaled
los cortes (elimina and filtered
el temblor de lastomanos
eliminate hand tremors)
humanas) andmás
e incisiones
Los distintos elementos
the small size
pequeñas, conofloincisions, whichelshortens
cual se acorta tiempo de recovery time forpostoperatoria
recuperación the The various surgical
quirúrgicos necesarios
instruments used at
patient and allows
y la posibilidad a given
de que doctor to operate
un determinado médico onopere
a specific
a un patient
particular para las diferentes
different etapas
stages during
de laoperation
the operaciónare
son
easily
without
paciente,having
sin quetoninguno
be in thedesame physical
los dos location. de su ciudad
deba desplazarse fácilmente reemplazables.
replaced.

The Console
La consola
is where
Es the
el lugar surgeon
desde performs
donde the surgical
el cirujano realiza laprocedure. The
intervención.
virtual-reality
El environment
entorno de realidad allows
virtual the doctor
le permite to observe
incluso observar
incisions
las and organs
incisiones magnified
y los órganos up to 20 times.
aumentados hasta 20 veces. La incisión
The necesaria
necessary incision
para
for cada
each instrumento
instrument
utilizado
used durante
in the la
operation
operación less
measures es menor al
than the
radio de
radius of una lapicera.
a pencil.

During
Duranterobotic surgical
las operaciones
procedures,
robóticas seaencuentra
doctor or
nurse assists
presente
surgeon.
the
un médico
enfermero que asiste
al cirujano.
u
2,200
2.200
Es el número de robots
is the number of robotic
cirujanos que existen
surgeons currently
actualmente en el mundo.
practicing around the world.

Pese
In a que
spite no operating
of not trabaja con onelapaciente
patient Instrumentos
Special especializados
Surgical Instruments
directamente,
directly, la consola
the console le the
allows permite
doctoral to The roboticpueden
arms can
Los brazos serhold a wide
dotados de range of instruments,
una gama from scalpels
de innumerables of various
instrumentos sizes and
quirúrgicos,
cirujano
“feel” the"sentir" la operación
operation, because the al robot cameras to suture materials, clamps,
que van desde bisturís de distinto tiponeedles, and scissors.
hasta cámaras, pasando por elementos de sutura,
transmitirle
transmits sensaciones
data related to de flexibilidad,
flexibility, pressure,
pinzas, agujas y tijeras, entre otros.
presión
and y resistencia,
resistance, amongentre
otherotras.
information.

500.000
500,000
Es, aproximadamente,
is the approximate numberel número de
of robotic
intervenciones quirúrgicas
surgical procedures robóticas
that have been
realizadas
performed desde las primeras,
since the techniqueen 1997
was
first developed in 1977. Suture clamps
Pinzas para suturar Scalpels
Escalpelos Scissors
Tijeras Forceps
Fórceps Cauterizers
Cauterizadores Clip applicators
Aplicadores de clips Cameras
Cámaras
40 SCIENCE
66 C3 AND HEALTH
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TECNOLOG ÍA 67
41

How
CómoItfunciona
Works Los implantes
Implanted Components
Corazó n artificial
Artificial Heart The
walls
key to
La clave delthe
andque
flexibles
artificial
corazón
is filled with un
contiene
heart is
artificial
silicone
esauncompartment
fluidofluid.
compartimiento
An internal
siliconado.
that de
hasparedes
En el rotary
flexible
motor
interior, un
Exceptelfor
Excepto
external
baterías
an de
pack
pack
externas,

D
causesrotatorio
motor the fluid produce
to press fuerza
outward, creating en
centrífuga pressure against
el fluido y, por the flexible
lo tanto, of batteries,
todos all the
los componentes

T
he artificial
esde el primerheart has experienced
implante, en 1982, ela corazón
notable development since the first permanent
artificial ha experimentado una notableartificial-
evolución, walls ofen
presión
secret to
presión
thelascompartment.
–mediante
Valves
paredes flexibles
the proper operation
válvulas-
deldirect
es of
this pressure,
compartimiento.
el the artificial
secreto para organ.
which isesta
Controlar
el funcionamiento del
the components
del sistema seofcolocan
system
en
the
are placed
el interior del cuerpo
heart implant
aunque in 1982,
aún, debido although
a las the procedure
complejidades continues
que enfrenta to undergocontinúa
su desarrollo, experimental
siendostudy
materia órgano artificial. within
del the body
paciente, of the
lo cual
patient and
que are
estenot
because of its El
experimental. complexity.
más avanzadoThe most
es el advanced artificialque
modelo AvioCor, heart, a model
no sólo called AbioCor,
ha demostrado has been
ser eficiente permite
visible. su
mantenga
Valve
Motormotor
de la válvulas
successfully
en pacientes implanted into a number
durante períodos, incluso,ofsuperiores
seriously illa heart
los 500patients, oneque
días, sino of whom livedcomponentes
todos sus as long as 17se apariencia.
operates
Opera lasthe valvesde
válvulas that
los Fuera
Outside
months with
implantan en the device. del
el interior Thecuerpo
AbioCor heart is self-contained
y requiere de un mantenimiento within the body El
mínimo. and needs
sueño delminimum
corazón control the flow of
compartimentos que del
the
maintenance.
artificial The marvel
se acerca of the artificial
así a convertirse en una heart is closer
realidad to becoming
cotidiana, aunqueanaún
everyday reality, en
no disponible although in
el corto hydraulic
contienenfluid from para
la sangre cuerpo
body
one side oflathe
controlar dirección de la Transmisor
Transcutaneous
the short
plazo paraterm it masivo
el uso is still not available for widespread use. compartment to
fuerza hidráulica. de energía
energy Inside
Dentro
the other. transcutáneo the
del
transmitter
body
cuerpo
It has an
unaexternal coil that
El implante Posee
sends
que le energy
bobina externa
envía lathrough
energíathe skin
a una
to an internal
bobina reception
de recepción coil; a
interna,
The Implant
Se realiza respetando la circulación sanguínea, mediante conexiones con las
principales venas y arterias sin suturas internas para evitar entorpecer el Location
Ubicación this
travésenergy
de laispiel,
used forluego
que charging
flujo sanguíneo. El implante
is carried out requiere deblood
while maintaining una intervención
circulation byquirúrgica
means of mayor.
connections to El corazón
The artificial
artificial ocupa
heart occupies the internal
alimenta lasbatteries. This
baterías internas.
the principal veins and arteries without using internal sutures that could la cavidad
the que deja
cavity that el
remains setup
De este avoids
modohaving wires
se evita queorla
hinder blood flow. The implant is a major surgical intervention. corazón
after thedel paciente
patient's luego
heart has tubes protruding
piel esté atravesadathrough the
por tubos
Arteria aorta Arteria pulmonar been
de serremoved
extirpado during
durante la skin and consequently
o cables, disminuyendoreduces
el
surgery. Themodifica
cirugía. No patient'sla the riskdeofinfección.
riesgo infection.
La sangre oxigenada El corazón bombea y
es expulsada y expulsa con fuerza la appearance
apariencia de is las
notpersonas.
affected.
Aorta artery
bombeada a través sangre de deshecho
Pulmonary por
artery
de
Thelaoxygenated
aorta hacia la arteria
The heartpulmonar
pumps
todo
bloodeliscuerpo.
pumped out hacia los pulmones,
deoxygenated blooden Válvulas valves
Primary principales
of the heart through donde será
through theoxigenada
pulmonaryy Son cuatro.
There Al igual
are four. que en
As with Motor rotatorio
Rotary motor
the aorta to the "limpiada".
artery to the lungs, el corazón
the humanhumano,
heart, the se Al runs
It girarat
(9000
up torpm)
9,000 rpm
entire body. where the blood is abren sólo
valves openpara
onlypermitir
to allowel Produce
to producela fuerza
the centrifugal
cleaned and ingresotooenter
blood egresoorde la
leave, centrífuga
force que creathe
that creates la Heart
Corazón
oxygenated. sangre, evitando
thereby avoiding el presión hidráulica.
hydraulic pressure. weighs
Tiene un2 peso
pounds
de (0.9
900
peligroso reflujo
dangerous reflux. kg). It is powered
gramos. Obtiene labyenergía
the
Material internal batteries.
de las baterías internas.
Es una
An alloyaleación de
of titanium
titanio
and y un
light plástico
plastic to EL BOMBEO
PUMPING
liviano,blood
which antiadherente
does Dirección of
Direction de
parastick
not la sangre. Theabre
Se hydraulic pressure
la válvula in de
de una thelas la sangre
the blood
1 pump is directed
arterias. La fuerzaagainst the
hidráulica
flexiblepor
creada wallelon one side
motor of the
rotatorio
Vena
Vena cava
cava
pump. Theejerce
entonces, wall pushes
presiónoutward
sobre
Recibe
receivesla blood
sangre against
ese lado an overlying
que, chamber
por lo tanto, Fluído
Fluid Control
Controller
del
fromcuerpo ya
the body— filled with
expulsa blood and
la sangre. pushesen
Mientras, the Ajusta
In el funcionamiento
addition to controlling
utilizada,
blood thatpobre blood
el ladoout of it. Meanwhile,
opuesto, se abre la the del corazón
the operation mientras
of the heart,
en oxígeno
contains y
waste overlying
válvula dechamber
una de las onvenas
the monitorea
it monitorslathe
temperatura
blood
repleta de in
and is low Pump
Bomba
opposite
para side el
permitir of ingreso
the pumpde temperature and pressure.
y la presión saguínea.
deshechos,
oxygen—and que fills with
sangre al blood.
compartimiento. Internal
Baterías batteries
internas
ingresa
emptiesen it la
into
Son de litio.
contain Obtienen
lithium. la energía
They receive energy
the rightderecha
cavidad atrium
de lasthe
from baterías
externalexternas y laand
batteries
of the
del heart.
corazón.
transfieren
transfer al the
it to corazón.
artificial heart.

The
Las closed valves
válvulas opense
cerradas and
abren
2 the open
y las valvesseclose,
abiertas andLa
cierran. the
Fluído
Fluid
hydraulic pressure entonces,
fuerza hidráulica, is shifted
to the other
ejerce side
presión of the
sobre pump.
el lado
The process
opuesto. repeats se
El proceso itself
repite
over
una yand over.
otra vez consumando la
acción de bombeo.
Pump
Bomba

External
Pack de baterías
battery
externaspack Remote
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monitoring
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También
also de litio.
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lithium.
unit
remoto
Vena
La
pulmonar
Pulmonary
Thesangre
vein
limpia
cleaned y rica
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5 añ
os
years único
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pack
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part
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quesystem
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del
is the only
no se that
en el interior
not implanted within
Seisutiliza
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the
para
used to
operation
controlar
monitor
el of the
en oxígeno
oxygen, ingresa
enters the left is
Esthe anticipated
el tiempo survival del
de sobrevida period
quefor patients
podrían who, in
disfrutar losa del body.
the cuerpo.It Sirve
is usedpara
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el corazón, few years, que
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pero ahora por la cavidad izquierda. introduction
lanzamiento is expected
está inpara
previsto 2008.
2008. internas.
batteries.

Cutting-Edge Technology
T
oday technology continues to
pave the way toward the future
and is beginning to change our
lives and habits. Recently a
number of documentaries have
shown us different applications of smart
technologies, technologies that are
already in use in Japan, including
companion robots that many families
consider to be a family member. These
ROBOT PRODUCTION
In the future, these machines will
be able to “see,” which will allow
them to control airports, fly
planes, and drive military vehicles.
types of technological breakthroughs are
only now taking off, and they still
tantalize and delight us. But one thing is
certain: the future is here, and we are
seeing it develop in front of our own
SMART HOUSES 70-71 SOLDIERS OF THE FUTURE 82-83
NANOTECHNOLOGY 72-73 SPACE EXPLORATION 84-85
SMART CLOTHING 74-75 EXTRASOLAR PLANETS 86-87
TUNNELING MICROSCOPE 88-89
BIOTECHNOLOGY 76-77
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 78-79 HADRON COLLIDER 90-91
VIRTUAL REALITY 80-81
eyes. We invite you to discover the
numerous applications of nanotechnology
and smart clothing, new allies in the
search for a higher quality of life.
70 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 71

Watering the garden

The schedule for watering can Central Remote
Smart Houses be programmed to vary
according to the season.
system
Networked
computer
Video Alarm Surveillance
connection
The house systems

T
Leaks can be monitored
he goal of smart-house technology is to develop ways that give a house Lights Entry points
from a computer
intelligence so that it can adapt on its own to the needs and wishes Networked or cell phone with
of the people who live in it while it also takes care of all the tasks Central
computer an Internet
Laundry Audio and
related to home maintenance and security. Even though much of the computer and kitchen video
Temperature connection.
technology that has been developed for this purpose is too
expensive for most people, the continual advances made in
this field suggest that in the near future almost all
homes will have smart-house devices.
Pool
maintenance

Window blinds
can be programmed to open or close
depending on the amount of sunlight.
Appliance control
Virtual paintings All the home appliances can be
use photographic images that are programmed and monitored
downloaded from the Internet and from the central system.
changed periodically.

Occupied-home
simulator
When the house is empty for an Water-leak
extended period of time, the system detector
opens blinds and turns on lights and
appliances to make it appear that
someone is at home.

Light
sensors
measure the
amount of natural
light so that
outdoor lighting
can be used
Gas and
efficiently. smoke detector

Control for air

conditioner
Computer
It can be used to
monitor the
Primary Functions Antenna for satellite system from any
room of the house.
TV or Internet
SECURITY SURVEILLANCE An Internet connection can be
used to control the system
sounds an alarm when a house intruder remotely.
is detected.

SECURITY PROTECTION
warns of such dangers as fire, water or Power-failure
gas leaks, and electrical faults.
detector
Sensors to Turns on emergency
Emergency detect open lighting
COMFORT AND ECONOMY lighting doors and
systems to make the home comfortable
windows
Mail Video camera
and to use energy efficiently.
detector A video system monitors the
access points to the house.
72 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 73

Nanotubes
Nanotechnology are currently the stars of the
field of nanotechnology. A
nanotube is simply an atom layer

T
he term “nanotechnology” refers to the study, design, synthesis, manipulation, and application folded into a tubelike shape one or
a few nanometers in diameter.
of materials, devices, and functional systems by controlling matter at the nanoscale. These new, Nanotubes were discovered in
1991 and have several surprising
atomically precise structures, such as carbon nanotubes or minuscule instruments to examine features, such as the ability to give
the inside of the human body, promise a new technological revolution still difficult to imagine. them metallic or semiconductor
properties of electrical
Specialists in the field expect numerous industrial, scientific, and social breakthroughs. One day, there conductivity, among other
will be materials that are more resistant than steel yet lighter, cleaner, and more efficient. Among properties currently under study.

many possible applications that could appear are computers with significantly faster components
and molecular sensors capable of detecting and destroying cancer cells in the brain. Size
0.6 to 1.8 nanometers
in diameter

1 nanometer (nm)
is one-billionth of a meter, or one-millionth of a millimeter
(0.04 inch). In other words, it is equivalent to dividing 1 inch
Challenges PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
into 25 million equal parts. One of the challenges researchers
face is how to develop nanotubes Single wall A comparison
of the longest possible length. nanotube
SOME The longest nanotube to date
COMPARISONS measures 1.5 inches (4 cm). Density 0.77 to 0.81 oz/cu in Aluminum has a density of
(1.33–1.40 g/cu cm) 1.6 oz/cu in (2.7 g/cu cm)

Water molecule:
Resistance 6.5 million pounds per Very tough steel alloys
0.3 nm The Crystalline to tension square inch (45 billion break at around 290,000
pascal) pounds per square inch (2
Maximum Thickness of a Structure billion pascal).
circumference of a virus DNA molecule:
The structure formed by atoms
2.5 nm Virus:
once they align affects the Carbon Elasticity They can bend sharply and Metals and carbon fibers
ell

20-250 nm Electrical
an c

properties of the material. One example atoms go back to their original break when subjected to
is pure carbon, which, according to its links shape without any damage. similar tests.
f a typical hum

nce of a hair structure, can become:

Bacteria: Electric Estimated at 6.5 billion Copper wires melt at
Circumference 1,000 nm Diamond Graphite Fullerenes Nanotubes amperes per square inch approximately 6.5 million
of a bacterium 1 Very hard,
2 Soft, scaly,
3 A new material
4 More resistant
current
capacity (1 billion/sq cm). amperes per square inch
Circumfere
nce o

transparent mineral and greasy with unknown than steel and (1 million/sq cm).
properties excellent
fere

Red blood cell: Carbon electrical Field Can activate phosphates Tips of molybdenum require
um

7,000 nm atoms conductors with 1 to 3 volts if the fields of 15 to 30 volts per foot
emission
irc

Circumference of C
Typical electrodes are spaced out (50–100 V/m) and have very
a red blood cell
human cell: at 0.00004 inch (1 m). short life spans.
20,000 nm
Thickness Electrical Heat It is predicted to be as high An almost pure diamond
of a hair: links transmission as 3,300 watts per foot per transmits 1,800 watts per
80,000 nm
Electrical degree Fahrenheit (6,000 foot per degree Fahrenheit
links W/m/K) at room temperature. (3,320 W/m/K).
Carbon
Carbon Electrical atoms Thermal Stable even at 5,100° F The electrical wires inside
atoms links stability (2,800° C) in a vacuum microchips melt at
Infinite Applications environment and at 1,390° F between 1,100° F (600° C)
(750° C) in the air. and 1,800° F (1,000° C).
There exist a variety of applications for nanotechnology. The following examples are the
most immediate, although most are experimental. The imagination is the only limit.

Information technology New materials Robotics Cosmetics Transmission of Medicine Clothing Solar energy Data storage
Molecular nanoprocessors containing will be dozens to hundreds Microscopic robots New smart electrical energy New medicines. Highly resistant, Huge improvements in There already exists a
chips with microscopic transistors of times more resistant than (nanobots) will, for example, creams, Superconducting materials Molecular and genetic intelligent fabrics maximizing this clean memory card that
will be at the heart of computers known materials but will be able to travel inside organs particularly that do not suffer a loss of repairs. Microscopic, that do not get dirty and inexhaustible measures just 0.005
millions of times more powerful than also weigh much less. and blood vessels to perform highly efficient energy during transportation protein-building or that can repel energy source square inch (3 sq mm)
those that exist today. diagnostic tests and repairs. sunblocks at room temperature machines, among others. viruses and bacteria and has a capacity of
100 gigabytes.
 74 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 75

Smart Clothing Diverse

W
ith the invention of smart fabrics and computerized apparel, our clothing will Users
undergo in the coming years one of the most dramatic and surprising Smart apparel is obviously
evolutions since humans first began wearing clothes. Some of these new of great benefit to
breakthroughs already exist: they are showing up for the first time in the market and athletes, but it is also
important to patients with
are becoming readily available for mass consumption. Among them are materials that chronic illnesses, such as
integrate features that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago-for diabetics, who need to
monitor their condition
example, clothing that not only informs the wearer of the body's response to physical frequently.
activity but also modifies itself to improve performance.

Smart Fabrics
Generally a product of new developments in INFORMATION IN
nanotechnology, smart fabrics show surprising REAL TIME
features that will be widely used in the next few years.
Clothes made out of
fabrics with integrated Microphone
Colorful
minisensors and
A special fiber made of plastic and glass can be used imperceptible electrical
with electronic circuitry that modifies the way the circuits can determine Fiber-optic cable
fabric reflects light and thereby changes color. the wearer's heart rate,
blood levels of oxygen
and other gases, Sensors
Comfortable
calories consumed, and
Fabrics that eliminate sweat, keep the skin dry, and breathing rate.
eliminate odors already exist. Similarly, there are
materials that can provide ventilation or warmth
in accordance with the outside temperature.
Database
Resistant
Fabrics that do not get wrinkled, are resistant to
stain, and keep their shape after many years of
wear and washing have also been developed.

Antistatic
Fabrics that remove static electricity. They prevent the
buildup of hair, pollen, dust, and other potentially
harmful particles for people with allergies.
Antimicrobial
Fabrics that block the growth of viruses, fungi,
bacteria, and germs
Chlorine
is an element found in the fibers of fabrics
that repel germs. One of its properties is
that it destroys bacterial cell walls. It is
also the basis of bleach, which is Sensors
frequently used in disinfectants.

Transmitter
Perfect Steps
The Adidas-1 shoe, a project three years in the making, can
determine the athlete’s weight, stride, and surrounding
terrain to adjust the shoe’s tension accordingly.

Inside the hollow heel, the

1 components of the shoe
generate a magnetic field.

Magnetic field

Heel

While running, the foot hits the

2 heel of the shoe and modifies
the magnetic field.

A sensor that can perform up Sensor

3 to 1,000 readings per second Motor
detects each modification and
sends that information to the
microchip. 5,000,000
is the number of
Sensor calculations per second
performed by the Adidas-1
microchip.

A microchip determines the

4 appropriate tension for the heel
and sends the information to
the motor.
When a person is running, the
body absorbs three to four
times the person’s weight
each time a step is taken.
Smart shoes help absorb this
The motor, rotating at 6,000 rpm, moves enormous force and protect
5 the screw, which in turn strengthens or the most vulnerable areas,
relaxes the heel. The entire process is and they also provide comfort
repeated with each step. Firm heel Soft heel and stability.
76 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 77

Cut and Paste Human

Biotechnology It is possible to “cut and paste” genes to correct genetic defects
or, in the case of transgenic organisms, produce new species with
selected properties.
Genome
A thorough understanding of the

T
NUCLEUS
he discovery during the 20th century that all the information that is needed to build a living Gene Therapies human genome and of the germs that
can infect and modify it will make it
being is found within each cell, written in a code with only four letters (the DNA molecule), Only the first steps have been taken in this specialized field, whose
principle is to treat hereditary disorders by modifying a patient’s DNA.
possible to produce medications
led to the inevitable conclusion that the information could be artificially modified to produce Other illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS, might also be treatable with
that are highly efficient and even
tailored to the individual.
new species with specific qualities or to cure hereditary diseases. Nevertheless, only in recent years this type of therapy.
Chromosome
have the techniques been developed to attain these objectives. The techniques have yielded Gene therapy typically The retrovirus RNA is The retrovirus introduces
products such as transgenic foods that have already become widely available in the marketplace 1 makes use of 2 modified to reduce or 3 its modified genetic material
retroviruses to modify a eliminate its ability to into the human cell.
and generated much controversy concerning safety and other issues. person’s DNA. cause disease. At the
Retroviruses can infect same time, an RNA
a human cell and use fragment is added
their RNA to modify the that is intended for
DNA Transgenic Organisms cell’s DNA to convert insertion into the
A transgenic organism is an organism whose the cells into a “virus human cell.
It is an extremely long, thin molecule that holds all the information needed to form a living
genome (the set of instructions coded by its factory.” This capability
being. In multicellular organisms, DNA is located in the nucleus of each cell. The molecule is
DNA) contains a gene of another species. The is used to modify a cell’s
in the form of a chain assembled from four nucleotides, which are distinguished by their bases:
gene is introduced through genetic manipulation. DNA in a desired way.
adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
The cell functions
Plants Animals according to its new
There are many types Some transgenic animals instructions.
of transgenic plants, have been created to
Pair of
in particular several produce medical drugs
chromosomes
CYTOPLASM crops useful in on a large scale, and
agriculture. They some have been created
Ribosome
include soy that is for laboratory
resistant to experimentation. At
herbicides, corn that present, there are plans CYTOPLASM
produces its own to develop transgenic CELL
NUCLEUS insecticide, and pigs that could produce
sunflowers that are organs for use in human
tolerant to drought. transplants.

Human Cell
3 billion
The approximate number of
Nucleus: contains DNA base pairs that make up
genetic material the human genome
Chromosomes
(23 pairs)

Cytoplasm: fluid
Sec
medium with tion
structures called of D
NA
organelles

Ribosomes: bodies
that assemble proteins

TRANSCRIPTION

1 To produce a protein, the two chains of
DNA separate at the place that has the
instructions to produce it.
2 The DNA code is copied by a similar type of
molecule called RNA. The RNA maintains the C-
G and A-T linkages (but replaces thymine with
the nucleotide uracil).
3 The RNA leaves the nucleus and attaches to a Structure
ribosome, which, in accordance with the instructions
encoded in the RNA, assembles amino acids to Discovered in 1953, the structure is
produce the specific protein. a double helix whose strands
Messenger RNA are bridged by bases in an
established pattern.

RNA Cytosine Guanine

Ribosome Protein
DNA Adenine Thymine
DNA
78 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 79

Artificial Intelligence The Day a Machine Beat the Best Human

February 10, 1996, is a red-letter day
in the history of artificial
intelligence. On that day, an IBM
over a reigning world champion. The
game was part of a match in which the

A
Russian player prevailed four to two.
lthough the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) had long been present in science fiction, its computer called Deep Blue won a game of In 1997, a rematch was held between
chess in a match against the world chess Kasparov and Deep Blue, which won by a
theoretical basis was not established until the early 1950s. At first, investigators in the champion, Garry Kasparov, becoming score of 3.5 to 2.5.
discipline tackled the problem with great optimism, but over the years the challenge of thereby the first computer to triumph

creating a machine that could “feel” and behave like a human being with a capacity for
abstraction—and on occasion act in an illogical manner—revealed its considerable complexity.
Today there are amazing robots that still lack these human qualities. The robot can It has a 52-volt
run at a speed lithium-ion
of 3.7 miles (6 battery
El mejor amigo del hombre km) per hour mounted in its
LEDS and walk at 1.7 backpack.
AIBO is one of the most complex robot pets ever created.
According to Sony Corp, which introduced the robot in 1999,
AIBO interacts with its owner, conveys emotions by wagging its
AIBO conveys emotions through its body
movements. It also uses LED patterns to
communicate with its owner.
200 million miles (2.7 km)
an hour.
tail when it is happy, or seeks attention when it is being The possible number of positions
ignored. For the present, manufacture has ceased, and evaluated each second by the improved
customers anticipate a more advanced product. version of Deep Blue that defeated world-
Emotions chess champion Garry Kasparov

Touch
The robot dog is sensitive to
touch; it can also recognize
its owner.
Humanoids
Their humanlike appearance could spark our imagination
Happy Angry Sad and reinforce the impression that the humanoid is a living
Multitalented
machine. At present, commercially sold humanoids serve only as
It can move around without Expressions a source of entertainment.
bumping into obstacles, and it
can imitate typical dog motions,
PAPERO
such as lying down and sniffing
the ground with its nose. It has Produced by NEC, PaPeRo
its favorite toys and favorite is a domestic robot that
spots around the house. can recognize the faces of
its family members,

15.2 inches (38.5 cm)

Recognized Detected an Has been distinguish colors, read
Dimensions its owner obstacle petted text, dance, and change a
10.9 inches (27.8 cm)

TV channel when its

Favorites owner gives a verbal
command. It can tell
stories to children, and,
by means of its camera
eyes, it can send parents The robot
images of their children can lift up
while the parents are at to 1 pound
12.5 inches (31.7 cm) the office. (0.5 kg) in
Petted by Favorite Favorite each hand.
its owner spot things
AI Development ASIMO
The search for artificial intelligence began in the 1950s. Since then, a number Honda’s bipedal robot
of milestones have been reached. Following are some major milestones. ASIMO (Advanced
Step in Innovative
Mobility) was
1950 1956 1962 1973 1994 1996 1998 1999 2003 introduced at the
Robodex 2000
exhibition in
Yokohama. It can
The Turing test is published. The researcher Unimation, the first Freddy, a robot capable of The twin cars VaMP and VITA-2, The chess program Furby, a small pet Cynthia Breazeal designs Kismet, one
John McCarthy company dedicated to
QRIO walk, dance, shake
The purpose of the test is to identifying and assembling developed by the University of Munich Deep Blue wins a that resembles a of the first robots to respond to
determine whether a machine coins the term producing robots, is A robot made by hands, carry a tray of
objects, comes into being and Mercedes Benz, drive under game of chess gremlin, is people in a natural manner.
can be considered intelligent. “artificial formed. Four years later at the University of automatic control, carrying live against world chess introduced. It Sony, QRIO was drinks like a waiter,
The challenge consists of intelligence” at a computer program Edinburgh, Scotland. passengers about 620 miles (1,000 km) champion Garry can learn to the first bipedal and answer simple
having a person converse with a celebrated called ELIZA becomes around Paris, in traffic, at speeds up to Kasparov. talk as it robot capable of questions. The current
a machine and a human being Dartmouth available. The program 80 miles per hour grows up. It running. model is about 4 feet
at the same time. If the person Conference. uses a dialogue system (130 km/h). becomes a It can run at a 3 inches (1.3 m) tall
cannot decide which that simulates a retail sensation. speed of 45 ft and weighs 119
interlocutor is the human psychotherapist’s speech. (14 m) per pounds (54 kg).
being, the machine has According to many minute.
passed the test. For the time users/patients, this
being, no machine has system can elicit strong
succeeded in doing so. emotions from them.
80 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 81

Passage to a Parallel World Evolution

Virtual Reality Although the perfect virtual-reality setting remains to be created,
there are those who already experience new sensations by simply
putting on a helmet, a pair of gloves, and special boots.
In almost half a century of evolution,
virtual reality has progressed from an
ingenious cinematic machine to a very
promising complex technology.

I
s a technology in full development whose object is to
deceive the senses to create a variety of sensations. It has

1968
EARPHONES
many applications, which have not yet been completely are designed to simulate 3-D sound by such
techniques as delaying sound output from
explored. The focus has been on forms of entertainment in different channels by a fraction of a second to
which the player acts within the created setting and on create the perception that sound sources are
situated at distinct locations.
simulators for training soldiers, pilots, surgeons, and
others in extreme situations without placing the
trainees at risk. Other promising areas for virtual
Textures
Morton Heilig, a cinematographer,
constructs the Sensorama. The viewer sits
in a chair that can vibrate. The viewer is
surrounded by three screens on which a
film, such as a bicycle trip through New
York City, is projected. It produces smells,
currents of air, and other effects. It was
the first virtual-reality simulator.
Ivan Sutherland, a pioneering computer

1968
reality—which combines the capabilities of the most scientist, proposes the use of a video
powerful computers with ingenious mechanical Researchers recognize display that can be placed on a viewer’s
head and respond to the head’s
devices—are in medicine (especially in the areas of that textures are some
of the most difficult orientation to make simulations more
treating phobias and traumas), marketing, and publicity. sensations to simulate. real. The result is the head-mounted
An experimental system display (HMD), whose early models use
that simulates the mirrors in a dual-projection system.
texture of various grades
Images 1977: The first data glove is patented.

The 1980s The 1990s

HELMET of sandpaper has been
generates 3-D images developed in the United
are created by powerful processors that use various 3-D Major development takes place in
programming languages. VRML is one of the most widely used,
although it is giving way to X3-D, which is more complex.
Requirement using complex
calculations while it
States.
fighter-aircraft simulators to train
pilots using HMD.
For many years, airline pilots changes perspectives
have been required to practice according to the 1989: The U.S. Department of Defense
HOW THEY ARE GENERATED
periodically in flight head movements of Controllers
creates SimNet, a simulation system to
Modeling simulators, one of the most the person The most advanced are train troops.
1 The form of the object is experiencing the wireless and detached—
widespread applications of
generated and given a skeleton virtual reality. simulation. that is, unlike a conventional
framework that, when animated, joystick, the controls are not Many experimental approaches to touch
can be used to modify the shape mounted in any kind of and smell simulators are developed
and position of the object. structure. They transmit while simulations for vision and sound
signals to the unit’s are perfected.
Composition processor with infrared
2 Textures, colors, and lighting radiation, and they can
are applied, all of which help register placement,
provoke sensations of greater movement, speed, and
realism. acceleration through an
inertial system.

Programming
3 The user of the simulation
needs to be able to interact
with the object by means of
DATA GLOVE
Uses electromagnetic and
$739,000,000
the specific characteristics inertial sensors to register hand was the amount collected
assigned to it. and arm movements, which are worldwide for the movie
converted into electrical signals Matrix Reloaded (the final
and incorporated into the movie of the Matrix trilogy),
simulation. making it one of the top 25
Deceiving the Senses box-office hits of all time.

SIGHT SOUND SMELL TOUCH TASTE BOOTS Perfect Simulation

There are several means by
which high-quality virtual
reality misleads the sense of
sight. These means include
the use of special helmets
and glasses and of screens
that extend beyond the
visual field, such as those
employed in IMAX theaters.
The challenge is to produce
three-dimensional sound that
simulates environmental sound.
It is necessary to calculate the
position of an individual with
respect to the virtual sound
source and objects. Good-
quality simulations exist, but
work remains to be done.
Virtual-reality Some systems use gloves that There have not been function like data gloves by The Matrix trilogy, whose first movie
simulations have been can give the wearer the advances with this sense. providing information for the premiered in 1999, presents an idealized
developed that use perception that virtual objects It is believed that to simulation. The boots indicate virtual reality. It takes place in a world dominated
strong basic odors, but are present to the touch. generate taste sensations, whether the user is running, by machines in which human beings live in a
they are expensive. However, a good simulation it will be necessary to walking, or resting. fictitious universe. Their brains are connected to a
Producing the sensation should at the same time include stimulate the brain directly virtual-reality machine that creates such perfect
of softer and more sensations of temperature, shape, with invasive methods akin to simulations that they cannot even suspect that
complex aromas remains firmness, and force—something the neuronal sockets they inhabit an illusory world.
a long-term goal. that remains a distant goal. envisioned in the movie Matrix.
82 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 83

Uniform
Future Force Warrior
Soldiers of the Future is a planning program for soldiers of the next
decade. Various technological systems for
defense, vision, and detection will be integrated in
Lightweight and
waterproof, the
uniform maintains
body temperature

F
the helmet, and the development of
or centuries, nations have devised highly diverse means of arming and defending their nanotechnology could lead to “intelligent” uniforms.
and can change color
depending on the
soldiers. With current developments, the tendency has almost been to think of a soldier as a terrain.
robotic unit, one that is in constant communication with its fellow soldiers and equipped for Weaponry
Sensors for detecting
combat in any type of terrain, environment, or condition, using weapons that are ever more Precision
bullets that
toxins. A microchip
uses the information
precise and lethal. Despite these advances, however, the main challenge continues to be that of are aimed at
to release specific
a target by
dealing with the vulnerability of the soldier. Within the most modern uniforms and advanced detecting
antidotes to protect
the soldier.
fighting systems, there is still a human being. In this regard, developments in nanotechnology HELMET body heat
that could lead to the creation of intelligent uniforms would be truly revolutionary. integrates infrared vision Biological detectors to
systems, heat sensors, monitor such readings
sensors for chemical and as the soldier’s blood
biological weapons, and pressure and pulse
night-vision cameras. It
Land Warrior Unmanned Vehicles has a head-up display Automatic treatment
that the soldier can use of wounds by means
is a term used to refer to the most modern and technological approach to equipping a ground soldier. It
saw limited use in the Iraq War, but the weight of the equipment and its relatively short battery life led to
the suspension of the program. Newer technologies were under study to improve it.
have been designed to provide support,
firepower, and reconnaissance without the
presence of a human.
to monitor the
surrounding area.
Intimidation of intelligent cloth

In addition to having lethal systems and Masking of body

weapons, technological soldiers can with temperature to evade
Infrared Camera sight Multiple antennas their appearance alone produce a enemy infrared
The image it produces COUGAR sensors
sensors receive and emit signals for radio, psychological impact on the enemy.
can detect can be viewed directly GPS, video, and other types of Unmanned ground attack vehicle.
persons in in the helmet. information. The soldier remains in It provides a high level of Gecko technology to
absolute constant contact with other soldiers firepower without risking the lives help the soldier climb
darkness by the in the unit, which helps prevent of human occupants. walls
heat they emit. feelings of isolation.

Monocular screen
can show the soldier Boot
position maps and the
Control unit placement of troops, could be used to
The soldier uses it to among other things. It store energy from
control all the systems. can also show images movements by means
from unmanned of kinetic cells.
vehicles.
Modular ceramic vest MULE
Divided into plates, it
A terrestrial vehicle designed
protects the soldier from
projectiles the size of an
for a variety of uses that In the Long Term
include transportation, mine
M16 round. Although most of these
detection, and assistance
providing air support. systems are currently under
Energy for the system development, it is unlikely that they
The system is equipped with will constitute part of regular-issue
lithium batteries and can military equipment before the first
operate for 24 hours. 25 years of the 21st century.

Edible vaccines Clothing to

Mask stop bleeding
protects against Food with applies precise
Waterproof biological and biomarkers that pressure on a
material chemical weapons. help in identifying wounded part
maintains normal troops remotely of the body.
body temperature,
even in extreme Purification
system for High-nutrition Improved
conditions. food bars metabolism
food and water
provides a constant can improve the
supply of potable Uniforms with oxygen supply to
water and of canned protein coating specific tissues
or dried rations, with provide shielding and provide

$2 billion a menu of 24 items.

60 hours
from enemy
sensors.
supplementary
energy to specific
cells.
The cost of developing the Land is the maximum autonomous flight time UAV Biometric
Warrior project over 10 years. of a few types of UAVs (unmanned sensors Thermophysiology
Boots Small reconnaissance and
Arming each soldier costs less constantly monitor Technology for
Lighter and reduce
aerial vehicles). UAVs can perform very surveillance aircraft. Some
than $30,000. physiological precisely controlling
rubbing
abrupt maneuvers that a human crew versions can carry armament to
indicators. body temperature
would not be able to tolerate. attack specific targets.
84 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 85

Jupiter
Neptune

Space Exploration
The giant of the solar system was
visited for the first time by Pioneer The distant blue giant
10 in 1973. Another seven has been visited only
spacecraft (Pioneer 11, Voyagers 1 once, in 1989, by
and 2, Ulysses, Cassini, Galileo, and Voyager 2.

B
New Horizons) have made flybys of
y the end of the 20th century, all the planets of the solar system had been visited the planet since then. Galileo studied
by space probes, including Uranus and Neptune, the most distant planets. In some Jupiter and its moons for eight
years from 1995 to 2003, and it
cases, the visit was only a flyby mission, which nevertheless provided data transmitted images and data of Uranus
impossible to obtain from the Earth. Other missions have involved placing space probes in incalculable scientific value.
In 1986, Uranus was visited
orbit around a planet. Yet other missions have landed probes on Venus, Mars, and Titan by Voyager 2, which took
photographs and readings of
(one of Saturn’s moons). In 1969, humans succeeded in walking on the Moon, and there the planet. It is the only
are now plans to send humans to the planet Mars. mission that has reached
Uranus.

Earth
Many artificial satellites
Unmanned Spacecraft and manned missions have
All planetary missions have been accomplished with
unmanned spacecraft. When possible their voyages
have taken advantage of the gravitational field of one or
orbited and continue to
orbit the Earth. The
orbiting International
7 years
The time it took for the Cassini
more planets in order to minimize fuel requirements. Space Station always has
probe to travel from the Earth as
a crew onboard.
far as Jupiter. Galileo reached
Jupiter in six years. Saturn
Only four missions have visited Saturn. The first three—Pioneer 11
Space Shuttle International (1979), Voyager 1 (1980), and Voyager 2 (1981)—flew by at distances of
The manned spacecraft that has been used Space Station
21,000 to 220,000 miles (34,000 to 350,000 km) from the planet.
the most since its first launching in 1981. The Cassini, in contrast, was placed in orbit around Saturn in 2004, and it
shuttle, however, cannot go beyond a 430- has obtained amazing images of the planet and its rings. Part of the
mile (700-km) Earth orbit. Cassini mission was to launch the Huygens probe, which successfully
Beyond the Solar System landed on the surface of Saturn’s mysterious moon Titan.

Space
Shuttle
Mercury
Visited in 1974-75 by
Mariner 10 on three flybys,
with a closest approach of
203 miles (327 km). The
probe mapped 45 percent of
the planet and made various
types of measurements. In
2011, the probe Messenger
will enter orbit around
Mercury after making flybys
in 2008 and 2009.
Having left behind the orbit of Neptune, the space probes Pioneer 10
and 11 and Voyager 1 and 2 are bound for the edge of the solar system.
Eros
In 2000, the probe
NEAR entered orbit
around the asteroid
433 Eros. In 1986, six
spacecraft, among
them Giotto, reached
Halley’s Comet.
Moon
The Apollo missions (1969-72) took a total of
12 astronauts to the surface of the Moon.
They are the only missions that have taken
humans beyond the Earth’s orbit. The United
States and China are preparing new manned Pioneer 10 and 11 Voyager 1 and 2
missions to the Moon. Mars
They were launched in 1972 and Launched in 1977, they carry a
In 1965, Mariner 4 took the first 22
1973 and visited Jupiter and gold-plated disk with music,
close-up images of Mars. Since then the
Saturn. Contact with the probes greetings in various languages,
planet has been visited by many orbiters
was lost in 1997 and 1995, sounds and photographs from the
and by probes that have landed on its
Venus respectively. They carry a plaque Earth, and scientific explanations.
surface. Among the most
with information about the Earth The probes passed Jupiter, Saturn,
The most visited celestial body after the Moon, noteworthy are the missions of
and human beings in anticipation Uranus, and Neptune and remain in
Venus has been studied by orbiting spacecraft Viking (1976), Mars Pathfinder
that they may eventually be contact with the Earth. Some data
and by landers, many in the 1970s and 1980s. (1997), Mars Global Surveyor
found by an extraterrestrial indicate that in 2003 Voyager 1
During the Vega and Venera missions and the (1997), and the Mars Exploration
civilization. Pioneer 10 is headed might have crossed the heliopause,
Mariner and Magellan missions, the surface Rovers (2004).
toward the star Aldebaran, which which is at the outer reaches of
of the planet was mapped and even Mars
it will reach in 1,700,000 years. the solar system. Exploration
excavated, and the atmosphere was
analyzed. At present, the spacecraft Venus Rover
(2004)
Express is studying the planet from orbit.

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Distance from the Sun
36,000,000 miles 67,000,000 miles 93,000,000 miles 141,600,000 miles 483,000,000 miles 887,000,000 miles 1,780,000,000 miles 2,800,000,000 miles
(57,900,000 km) (108,000,000 km) (150,000,000 km) (227,900,000 km) (778,000,000 km) (1,427,000,000 km) (2,870,000,000 km) (4,500,000,000 km)
86 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 87

A World Similar to the Earth

Extrasolar Planets STAR
Planetary systems have
been found around almost
every type of star, including
Of the many extrasolar planets reported by astronomers,
Gliese 581 c is the world most like the planet Earth. It
orbits a red dwarf star, and it is believed that it might have the

F
basic conditions for the development of life.
or centuries, there has been speculation about the possible existence of binary and tertiary stars
and stars of various sizes
planets orbiting other stars in the universe in the same way that the and temperatures, a fact EARTH
planets of the solar system, including the Earth, revolve around the Sun. that considerably increases
the possibility that some Size: 7,930 miles
Nevertheless, it has been only a little more than a decade since it has been planetary systems might be (12,756 km) in diameter
inhabited. Mass: 13.17 x 1024 pounds
possible to detect such bodies—albeit indirectly—thanks to new telescopes (5.976 x 1024 kg)
and measuring devices with increased sensitivity. The confirmation of the Distance from its star:
existence of these extrasolar planets suddenly increases the possibility that 93 million miles
life might exist in other corners of the cosmos. (150 million km), or 1 AU
Temperature: between -112°
and 122° F (-80° and 50° C)

Distant Worlds Orbital period: 365 days

By late 2007, astronomers had detected more than 225 Water: in gaseous, liquid,
possible planets in about 200 extrasolar planetary and solid states
systems. These figures indicate that many of these extrasolar
planets form part of a system in which, like the solar system, GASEOUS PLANETS ROCKY PLANETS
more than one planet is in orbit around a star. With just a few exceptions,
GLIESE 581 c
Almost all the extrasolar
planets detected to date are
gaseous giants like those of
the instruments currently used
are not able to detect rocky
planets like the Earth or Mars.
12.7 Size: 1.5 times the diameter
of the Earth
The First Photograph?
In 2004, photographs were taken
the solar system—Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are the types of planets
sought by astronomers, since
billion Mass: 4.83 times the
Earth’s mass
that might be the first images of stars
with extrasolar planets, namely
they are the most likely to be
home to life.
years Distance from its star: One
14th the distance of the Earth
2M1207b and GQ Lup b (shown in The age of planet PSR B1620- from the Sun (0.07 AU)
photo). However, it is still under 26b, the oldest of all the
discussion whether these small bodies known extrasolar planets; Temperature: unknown, but
are true planets or brown dwarfs. this planet orbits a system believed to be between 27° and
of binary pulsars. The much- 104° F (-3° and 40° C)
younger Earth is “only”
about five billion years old. Orbital period: 13 days

Water: It would have conditions

suitable for the existence of
liquid water.

1.2 days Indirect Detection

The time it takes the planet
OGLE-TR-56 to orbit its star; it
is the shortest orbital period
known for a planet.
The extrasolar planets are dark bodies very distant from the solar system, can generally only be detected by indirect methods, because “seeing” the planet
and they always lie in the glare of the star that they orbit. Therefore, they is at present almost impossible.
SPECTRUM SHOWING REDSHIFT

Star Planet
Notable Extrasolar Planets
Among the extrasolar planets that have been detected, there are surprising
differences in their characteristics. The gravitational force of the planet causes a slight movement of the star
1
toward the planet. The spectrum of the light from the star will show a redshift,
The First The Hottest The Most Massive The Smallest The Closest The Most Distant which indicates that star is moving away from the Earth.
Pegasi 51 b HD 149026 b Undetermined Gliese 581 c Epsilon Eridani b OGLE- 2003 -BLG-235 SPECTRUM SHOWING BLUESHIFT
Discovered in 1995, it This gaseous planet is There are several large Located about 20 light- This gaseous Jupiter- This planet was discovered
was the first extrasolar similar to Saturn in planetary bodies that years from the solar sized giant orbits in 2004 by means of a Planet
planet found orbiting a terms of mass but are as much as 11 times system, it is one of the the star Epsilon phenomenon called Star
normal star. It is a smaller in size. It as massive as Jupiter. extrasolar planets Eridani, which has gravitational microlensing.
gaseous planet that orbits its star at 25th Planet-sized objects with thought most likely to characteristics similar It is a gaseous giant that
has about one-half the the distance of the a mass above this value resemble the Earth. Its to the Sun, although it revolves around a star at a
mass of Jupiter and lies Earth from the Sun, are considered to be diameter is only 50 is somewhat smaller distance four times greater
47.9 light-years from and its surface almost starlike bodies; percent larger than and not as bright. It is than that between the Earth 2 When the planet is situated at the opposite side of its orbit, the spectrum This process repeats itself over and over, revealing the existence of a planet. For
the Earth. temperature may be they are called brown that of the Earth. only 10.5 light-years and the Sun, and it is about of the star will show a blueshift, which indicates that the star is moving the movement of a planet’s star to be noticeable, the planet must exert an
more than 2,700° F dwarfs and their classi- from the solar system. 19,000 light-years away. toward the Earth. appreciable gravitational force, which for the present means that it is only possible
(1,500° C). fication is in question. to detect planets that have at least four times the Earth’s mass.
40 CUTTING-EDGE
88 C3 TECHNOLOGY
APLICACIONES EN LA VIDA COTIDIANA ATLAS VISUAL DE LA CIENCIA TECNOLOG ÍA 89
TECHNOLOGY 41

LA
THESONDA DE EXPLORACIÓN
STM PROBE
The STM
El STM eninacción
Action
Microscopio de túnel
Tunneling Microscope Compuesta

que debe
comes to as
por
conductor,that
conductor
estar
sharp
un material
The tip of the probe
se trata

lo más afilada posible,

possible—ideally
de un solo átomo.
is an electrical
de of
is free
librea de
una
point
puntaand
oxides
óxidos
as y ser
idealmente
a single atom. the
hace
To see"ver"
Para
extremely
atoms
una punta fine
tipcon
of alosfinger
the STM
átomos, reads"lee"
el STM the surface
point, comparable
sumamente
to read
puntos
tomismo
afilada, del
of an de
la superficie
the way
Braille by detecting
en altorrelieve
object
a person
modo
patterns
de las letras
with ancon
un objeto
canciego
que un use lo
of raised dots.
en Braile.

E
M
ntre
anylasapplications
múltiples y aún inexploradas posibilidades
of nanotechnology que
continue to bebrinda la Para permitirfor
The process la lectura
readingathe
escala atómica
surface at andeatomic
una superficie,
scale
nanotecnología,
explored and el desarrollobut
developed, del it
microscopio de efecto túnel
was the development of the LA MUESTRA
THE SAMPLE debe generarse
requires una acorriente
producing tunnelingdecurrent
túnel entre la sonda
between the de
En el
anSTM
STMse estudian muestras queordeben exploración
STM probe del
andSTM y la muestra,
the sample. dereason,
For this modo que thetodo el
entire
(STM) le permitió
scanning tunnelamicroscope
los seres humanos
(STM) porthatprimera
made itvez "ver" los
possible to for must
ser metálicas o and
semiconductor,
be either metallic
semiconductoras
a
y chatas;
it must be very smooth.es microscopio funciona como
microscope functions like anunelectrical
circuito eléctrico.
circuit.
átomos
see y las
atoms andmoléculas. Sinfor
molecules embargo,
the firstesta maravillosa
time. However,máquina, cuyo
this marvelous decir,
Its con rugosidades
surface menores
roughness should be que
less1000
than
nanómetros
one (la milésima
thousandth parte de un
of a millimeter.
funcionamiento
machine, whoseestá basado isenbased
operation un concepto
on the de la mecánica cuánticaconcept
quantum-mechanical llamado milímetro).
"efecto as
known túnel", es tambiéneffect,
the tunneling una herramienta poderosatool.
is also a powerful con Researchers
la que los
investigadores
are beginning to están
userecorriendo
this new toollos in
primeros pasos denew
the surprising una tecnología
tan nueva como
technology sorprendente:individual
of manipulating la manipulación
atoms deandátomos y
moléculas individuales
molecules to constructpara construir
novel nuevos
materials and
materiales y estructuras a escala
structures at a nanometer scale.

Area ampliada
nanométrica

El arte
The Artde
ofobservar lo pequeño
Seeing the Small LA
THECORRIENTE
TUNNELINGDECURRENT
TÚNEL The Tunneling
El efecto túnelEffect
Es
is auna corriente
current de electrones
of electrons quebetween
that pass se transfieren
the
Cuando
With theeninvention
el siglo XVII
of theel optical
hombremicroscope
inventó el microscopio
by the early entre laand
muestra is quantum-mechanical
Se trata de un mecanismo in nature. There
descripto en lais mecánica
nothing analogous
sample probeyby la means
sonda, of
gracias al efectoeffect.
the tunneling
óptico logró, por
17th century, primera
it was vez,for
possible superar su propia
the first time tolimitación
overcomea túnel. Esta corriente se genera al aplicarse una on the scale
cuántica, queofnohumans and everyday
tiene analogías objects.
en la vida a escala humana.
The current is generated by applying a voltage
la hora
the de asomarse
limitations al mundo
of vision to peera into
escalas
the cada
worldvez
at más pequeñas. Al
ever-smaller diferencia
between the de sample
potencial andentre la sonda
the probe. They intensity
la of
scales.
inventoThis inventionloswas
le siguieron followed byelectrónicos,
microscopios the electronquemicroscope,
llegaron a muestra.
the currentSuvaries
intensidad varíato
according dethe
acuerdo con la
distance IN
PARACLASSICAL
LA FÍSICA PHYSICS
CLÁSICA
invented
mediadosaround the
del siglo middle
XX, hastaoflathe 20th century.
aparición, hace dosWith the del
décadas, distancia
between theentretiplaofpunta y la muestra;
the probe es decir,
and the sample—in a particle
Una cannot
partícula pass
no es through
capaz de
introduction
STM, con el que of the scanning
logró por fintunneling
t"ver" losmicroscope
átomos. in the 1980s, respecto de laaccording
other words, topografía to de
thelarelief
muestra.
of the sample. an energy una
atravesar barrier (a potential
barrera energética
it was finally possible to image individual atoms. barrier) ifdethe
(barrera energy ofsi the
potencial), la energía
OJO HUMANO
HUMAN EYE The Result
El resultado barrier
de is greater
la barrera
the particle.
partícula.
than that
es mayor que laofde la
Resolution: la
Resolución: décima
one tenthparte
of a de un milímetro
millimeter
is aun
Es graphic
gráficothat
queshows the peaks
representa vallesand valleys of the
y elevaciones de sample’s
la
atomic andelectrónica
estructura electronic structure.
y atómica de la muestra. IN
PARAQUANTUM
LA MECÁNICAMECHANICS CUÁNTICA The wave is
OPTICAL MICROSCOPE
MICROSCOPIO ÓPTICO The
El processor convierte
procesador converts the variations
los datos de a particle
Sin embargo,doeslasnot have a no
partículas La onda esbyrefractada
reflected the wall
in tunneling-current
variaciones intensity
de intensidad de la corriente concrete
tienen unalocation.
ubicaciónInstead,
concreta, sino por la pared...
Uses
Utilizavisible light yfocused
luz visible by lenses.
lentes. Su Theestá
limitación microscope’s resolution
dada por el is las
tamaño de the particle
que hasse
su posición wavelike
define como una
registered by the probe into graphics
de túnel registrados por la sonda, en
limited
ondas de byluz
thevisible.
size of the wavelengths of light. properties
nube and its position
de probabilidades; entre ellas,
that represent
gráficos the atomiclastructure
que representan estructuraat
Magnification
Aumentos: Resolution:
Resolución: Images:
Imágenes: the surface
atómica ofmuestra.
de la the sample. is defined
al otro ladoinde
terms of a Esto,
la barrera.
up to 2,000
hasta 2000 200 nanómetros
nanometers transparent, en 2D
transparentes, probability
porque cloud, which
las partículas a esta escala
times two dimensional extends
tanto beyond
pueden the barrier.como
comportarse
In this way,
partículas the particle
o como ondas. can
De este
cross the
modo, barrier puede
la barrera by, in effect,
ser
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
MICROSCOPIO ELECTRÓNICO DE TRANSMISIÓN tunneling through
atravesada it.
por la partícula, but a part of it una parte
... pero
generando el efecto túnel. can pass puede
through.atravesarla.
It illuminates
"Ilumina" the sample
la muestra with focused
con haces beams yoflentes;
de electrones electrons—that is,
es decir que
it uses longitudes
utiliza shorter wavelengths
de onda más than those ofque
pequeñas visible
la delight and
la luz thereby
visible,
overcomes
rompiendo esa light’s limitation.
limitación. Thanks
Graciastoal the tunneling
efecto effect, electrons
túnel, durante un trabajopass
con from thelos
el STM STM probe
electrones
to the sample
pueden despite the
ser transferidos barrier
entre presented
la punta by the vacuum
del microscopio betweenal
y la muestra,
Magnification
Aumentos: Resolution:
Resolución: Images:
Imágenes: them.
salvarThe strength
la barrera deof this tunneling
potencial current iselmeasured
que representa vacío. Estato"corriente
up to 1,000,000
hasta 1.000.000 0.5 nanómetros
0,5 nanometers transparent, en 2D
transparentes, determine
de túnel" esthe placement
medida of the atoms
para determinar la on the sample
posición de los being
átomos studied.
en la
times two dimensional muestra que se desea estudiar.

SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPIO MICROSCOPE
ELECTRÓNICO DE BARRIDO
scans the
"Barre" la sample
muestrawith
conaunbeam of electrons
haz de electronesand reads
y "lee" suthe surface.
superficie.
Manipulation
Manipulación of
deAtoms
átomos
Aumentos:
Magnification Resolution:
Resolución: Images:
Imágenes:
One de
Una of the most astonishing
las aplicaciones applications del
más asombrosas of STM
STM isesthe manipulation aofescala
la manipulación constructions.
como si fueranThis experimental
ladrillos. technology
Esta tecnología aún might lead to theycreation
es experimental of new
podría derivar
hasta
of 1.000.000
up to nanometers
10 nanómetros opaque,en
opacas, three
3D
individualque
atómica, atoms and molecules
permite as buildingátomos
construir utilizando blocks yinmoléculas
microscopic
individuales materials with de
en la creación unsuspected properties.
nuevos materiales de propiedades insospechadas.
1,000,000 times dimensional

Thelaprobe
Con sondais en
first useddeinlectura,
modo its The tip approaches
La punta theátomo
se acerca al atom hasta
until itcasi
almost touches.
tocarlo. The attractive
Se generan, entonces, The strength
Variando of the probe’s
la intensidad eléctrica,
11 scanning mode to identify the
2 forces
33
SCANNING TUNNELING
MICROSCOPIO MICROSCOPE
DE EFECTO TÚNEL se identifica el átomo que será fuerzasgenerated
de arrastrebypor
thelatipque
of the probeperseguirá
el átomo can then pull
a lathe atom
sonda poralong laelectrical
sonda sefield is reduced
desprende to
del átomo
Based
Basadoonenquantum
imaging
principles,
fundamentos
atómica.possible.
it makes
cuánticos, atomic-scale
permite "observaciones" a escala Nobel Prize
Premio Nóbel atom to be moved.
transferido the surface
cualquier of thedesample.
sector la superficie de la muestra. enrelease the atom
la posición into the
deseada.
desired position.
The physicists Gerd Binnig (German)
Magnification
Aumentos: Resolution:
Resolución: Images:
Imágenes: Los
and físicos
HeinrichGerd Binnig
Rohrer (alemán)
(Swiss) y Heinrich
in 1981
of
másupde
to1000 0.001 nanómetro
0,001 nanometer three-dimensional
genera gráficos en Rohrer (suizo)
established thesentaron las groundwork
theoretical bases teóricas
1,000,000,000
millones de (vertical) yand
(vertical) 0,10.1 graphical
3D images
de estructuras para el desarrollo
for the development delof
STM
the en 1981.
STM. ForPor
thiseste
times
veces. nanometer
nanómetro of atomic
atómicas. trabajo
work they fueron
weregalardonados
awarded the con el Nóbel
Nobel Prize de
(horizontal)
(horizontal) structures Física en 1986.
for Physics in 1986.
 90 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 91

0 miles 10

Hadron Collider FRANCE

SWITZERLAND Lake
Geneva

T
he Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a very large scientific instrument at the European
Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It is installed in an underground tunnel that is in the
form of a ring about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) in diameter and underlies the border between France
and Switzerland. The function of the instrument is to make particles collide with great energy to Geneva
break them apart and obtain data concerning the basic forces of the universe. This information can
lead to the discovery of new elementary particles as well as confirm the presence of elementary The rings
The tunnels are circular, and their depth
particles whose existence has only been determined theoretically. below the surface ranges from 330 to
FRANCIA
574 feet (100 to 175 m).

The Complex Collision of

particles
is made up of a number of tunnels Hydrogen ions (single protons) or lead ions
in the form of rings, each of which
raises the energy of the particles for
the next ring. Superconducting
magnets accelerate and guide the
particles. Six experiments
PS
analyze the results of the
collisions.

A linear particle
1 accelerator separates
atom nuclei from their
electrons to form ions.
Some ions contain just
one proton (hydrogen
ions), but others have
more than one (such as

)
cm
lead ions). These ions ATLAS

1.9
are directed to the 150

(2
feet
underground complex.

et
(45

fe
1.40 mile (2.25 km) .7 m

.9
)

71
ALICE
The ions are
2 accelerated to reach
SPS
speeds close to that
of light.
ATLAS DETECTOR
LHCb An instrument designed to explore,
Powerful impulses of through particle collisions, the
3 radio waves raise the fundamental nature of matter and the
energy of the ions to basic forces that govern the universe. It
400 billion electron weighs 7,700 tons (7,000,000 kg).
volts.
5.30 miles (8.53 km)

Streams of billions of now very

4 Large Hadron Collider
)

Big Bang
km

highly energized ions are introduced

In the LHC, either high-energy protons
27

into the LHC accelerator, some in

s(

one direction and others in the or high-energy lead ions collide

ile

opposite direction. Superconducting against each other. Upon breaking

m

The Large Hadron Collider, by obtaining data

17

magnets then increase their energy apart as a result of the collisions,

concerning elementary particles and
tenfold before particles are made to fundamental particles are generated
fundamental forces, will make it possible for us
collide with each other. in millionths of a second.
to learn the properties of the universe a
fraction of a second following the big bang, the
great initial explosion of the universe.

CMS Detector
This instrument, which weighs 13,800 tons
(12,500,000 kg), is designed to analyze the
A Record of
particles (such as photons, muons, and other
fundamental particles) that are generated between
the Collision
protons at extremely high energies and to determine
their mass, energy, and speed. Superconducting magnets Muon detector The particles that collide at high energy produce
Cooled to almost absolute zero permits the detection of this many elementary particles that exist for only
(about –459º F, or –273º C) with fundamental particle and millionths of a second, and they must be detected and
liquid nitrogen, the magnets are the allows for the measurement analyzed in that short amount of time.
largest that have ever been built. of its mass and velocity.
They impart high energy to the
particles and guide them.
CMS
49 feet (15 m)

Muon Charged hadron

Electron Neutral hadron
Entry Photon
of the 70.5 feet (21.5 m)
particles
that will
collide. Electromagnetic Hadron Superconductor
calorimeter calorimeter magnet

Collision of
particles

Silicon tracker

Muon
detector

Hadrionic calorimeter Electromagnetic

records the energy of calorimeter
Entry
the hadrons and analyzes precisely measures the Silicon tracker
of the particles
their interaction with energy of lightweight It tracks charged
that will collide.
atomic nuclei. elementary particles, such particles and measures
as electrons and photons. their speed and mass.
92 GLOSSARY
Glossary
Alphanumeric
Made up of letters, numbers, and other
characters.
AM
In telecommunications, amplitude modulation
(AM) is the linear modulation of a wave that
carries information. AM works by varying the
amplitude of the wave in relation to the
variations of information being sent.
Amino Acid
Type of molecule that contains a carboxyl group
(-COOH) and a free amino group (-NH2). It is
generally represented as NH2-CHR-COOH,
where R is a radical or a side chain typical of
each amino acid. Many amino acids build
proteins.
Amplitude
In wave mechanics, the amplitude of a wave is
its maximum value, both positive and negative.
The maximum positive value is known as the
peak, or crest, and the negative value is the
trough, or valley.
Analgesic
Any medical or paramedical procedure that
relieves or eliminates pain. Although the term is
sometimes used to describe any substance or
mechanism that relieves pain, it usually refers to
a group of drugs from a number of chemical
families that relieve or eliminate pain in various
ways.
Antipyretic
Drug that reduces fever. Antipyretics include
acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), dipyrone, and
paracetamol. The term comes from the Greek
prefix anti-, meaning “against,” and pyr, meaning
“fire,” or “fever.” Antipyretics tend to be drugs
that treat fever symptomatically; that is, they
do not act on the underlying cause of the fever.
Artery
In anatomy, a blood vessel that carries blood
away from the heart to the rest of the body.
Arteries are membranous, elastic ducts with
diverging branches that distribute throughout
the body the blood expelled from the ventricular
cavities on each systole.
Atomic Number
The number of protons found in the nucleus of
an atom. It is traditionally represented by the
letter Z. The atomic number uniquely identifies a
chemical element and represents a fundamental
property of the atom: its nuclear charge.
Catalyst
Substance capable of accelerating or delaying a
chemical reaction while remaining unaltered (it
is not consumed by the reaction). This process is
called catalysis. Catalysts do not alter the final
energy balance of the chemical reaction;
instead, they allow equilibrium to be reached at
a faster or slower speed. In the natural world,
there are biological catalysts, or biocatalysts,
and the most important of these are the
enzymes, although some ribonucleic acids also
have catalytic capabilities.
Catheter
In medicine, a device that can be inserted into a
body cavity or vein. Catheters allow injection of
drugs, drainage of fluids, or access of surgical
instruments.
Cell
Main structural and functional unit of living
organisms. The term comes from the Latin
word cellula, meaning “small compartment.”
CFC
Abbreviation for chlorofluorocarbon, which is
the name of each of the compounds of
saturated hydrocarbons obtained from
substituting hydrogen atoms for chlorine or
fluorine atoms. Because of their high physical
and chemical stability, CFCs have been widely
used as liquid refrigerants, extinguishing agents,
and aerosol propellants. Their use has been
prohibited by the Montreal Protocol because
they destroy the ozone layer of the
stratosphere, 30 miles (50 km) above sea level.
Chromosome
Long molecular strand within the central
nucleus of a cell that contains genetic material.
Each chromosome is made up of a single
macromolecule of DNA with associated proteins.
The number of chromosomes is constant for any
given species. Humans have 46 chromosomes.
Convection
Convection is one of three ways to transfer heat:
it does so by transporting matter between areas
with different temperatures. Convection occurs
only in fluids (which include gases). When a fluid
is heated, its density is reduced and it rises upon
being displaced by cooler portions of the fluid.
These portions in turn are heated, repeating the
cycle. The result is heat transfer by means of
portions of the liquid ascending and descending.
CPU
Abbreviation for central processing unit. This
component executes program instructions and
controls the functions of the different
components of a computer. It is usually
integrated into a chip called a microprocessor.
Diffraction
In physics, diffraction refers to phenomena
associated with wave propagation, such as the
spreading and bending of waves when they
meet an obstacle. Diffraction occurs with all
types of waves, whether they are sound waves,
waves on the surface of a fluid, or
electromagnetic waves, such as light waves and
radio waves. In the electromagnetic spectrum,
the lengths of X-ray waves are similar to the
interatomic distances within matter. Therefore,
the diffraction of X-ray waves is used as a
method to explore the nature of crystalline
structures. This technique allowed for the
discovery of the double helix structure of DNA
in 1953.
Diode
Device that allows an electric current to flow
in one direction. Below a given difference of
potential, a diode behaves like an open circuit
(that is, it does not conduct), and above it the
diode behaves like a closed circuit, with very
little electrical resistance. Because of this
behavior, diodes are usually called rectifiers,
as they can convert alternating current to
direct current.
DNA
Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. This is
the primary chemical component of
chromosomes and the material from which
genes are made. Its function is to provide
instructions needed to construct a living
organism that is identical to the original (or
almost identical, such as when it combines
with another chain, as in the case with sexual
reproduction). DNA is a polymer whose
monomers are made up of a phosphate group,
a deoxyribose, and a nitrogen base. These four
bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine
(C), and thymine (T). The DNA structure is a
long chain of nucleotides in the shape of a
double helix.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Combination of electric and magnetic fields,
oscillating and perpendicular to each other,
that propagates through an area, transporting
energy from one place to another. As opposed
to other types of waves, such as sound, which
need a material medium to propagate,
electromagnetic radiation can travel through
a vacuum.
Enzyme
Biomolecule that catalyzes chemical reactions.
The term comes from the Greek word enzyme
meaning “in yeast.” Enzymes are proteins. Some
RNA fragments are also able to catalyze
reactions related to the replication and
maturation of nucleic acid.
EVA
Abbreviation for ethylene vinyl acetate. It is also
known as foam rubber. EVA is a thermoplastic-
type polymer that is weather resistant and
chemical resistant. It has low water absorption,
is environmentally friendly, and can be thrown
away, recycled, or incinerated. Applications
include school supplies, footwear, set design,
and handicrafts. It can be washed, and it is
nontoxic.
FM
In telecommunications, frequency modulation.
It is the process of coding information in a
carrier wave, either in digital or analog form, by
instantaneous variation in its frequency
according to changes in the input signal.
Frequency
In wave mechanics, the number of oscillations
(or complete cycle) of a wave per unit of time
(generally per second). The average human ear
can perceive frequencies between 20 and
20,000 hertz (cycles per second).
Gene
Basic unit of inheritance in living organisms.
Molecularly, a gene is a linear sequence of
nucleotides inside a DNA molecule that contains
all the necessary information to synthesize a
macromolecule with a specific cellular function.
Genes are found inside every chromosome and
occupy a specific location known as a locus. The
set of genes in a species is called its genome.
GMO
Abbreviation for genetically modified organism,
an organism whose genetic material has been
deliberately designed or altered. The first GMOs
date back to the 1950s, when commercial
strains of yeast were modified through
radiation. The genetic modification of organisms
is an issue of great controversy. Environmental
organizations such as Greenpeace warn that the
risks of GMOs have not yet been fully
investigated and that GMO crops can escape
control as they disperse through the action of
wind and birds, thus polluting native crops. On
the other hand, supporters of GMO development
argue that this type of technology can alleviate
world hunger and reduce the impact of certain
sicknesses (for example, it is possible to grow
enriched rice that can prevent infectious
disease, or cows can produce vaccines or
antibiotics in their milk). Because of public
pressure on this issue, legislative bodies in many
countries are taking it into consideration and
mandating, for example, explicit labeling of
foods that contain GMO soy or corn as an
ingredient.
GPS
Abbreviation for Global Positioning System, a
system that can determine the precise location,
within inches, of a person, car, or ship anywhere
in the world. GPS utilizes a network of 24 main
satellites with synchronized orbits to cover the
TECHNOLOGY 93
entire surface of the Earth.
Graffiti
Letters or images scrawled on private or public
property, such as walls, cars, doors, and street
fixtures. In everyday language, the term also
includes what is known as vandalism—in other
words, signs, usually with political or social
messages, painted without the property owner's
consent. Sometimes slogans that became
popular using these techniques have also been
called graffiti, such as the ones that appeared
during the revolts of May 1968 in Paris: “Power
to the imagination” and “Beneath the pavement
is the beach.”
Hardware
The physical parts of a computer. Hardware
includes electronic and electromechanical
devices, circuits, cables, cards, boxes,
peripherals, and other physical elements related
to a computer.
Hertz
The unit of frequency of the International
System of Units. The hertz is named after the
German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who
discovered the transmission of electromagnetic
waves. One hertz (Hz) represents one cycle per
second, where a cycle is the repetition of an
event.
Logarithm
In mathematics, a logarithm is the inverse
function of an exponential function. Thus, the
logarithm to base b of a number x is the
exponent to which the base has to be raised to
obtain the given number. For the equation bn =
x, the logarithm is a function that gives n. This
function is written as n = logb x.
Macromolecule
Molecule with large molecular mass and high
numbers of atoms. Macromolecules are
generally the result of the repetition of one or a
small number of minimal units (monomers) that
make up polymers. They can be organic or
inorganic, and many macromolecules are
important to the field of biochemistry. Plastics
are a type of synthetic organic molecules.
94 GLOSSARY
Microprocessor
Highly integrated set of electronic circuits used
for computational calculations and controls. In a
computer, this is the central processing unit
(CPU).
Modulation
In telecommunications, the set of techniques
that convey information in a carrier wave. These
techniques allow more efficient use of
communication channels, thereby facilitating the
simultaneous transmission of information while
protecting it from possible interference and
noise.
Monomer
Small molecule that may become chemically
bonded to other monomers to form a polymer.
The term comes from the Greek words mono,
meaning “one,” and meros, meaning “part.”
NTSC
The analog television encoding and broadcast
system developed in the United States around
1940. It is named for the committee that
developed it, the National Television Standards
Committee. The NTSC standard is currently in
use throughout most of North and South
America and in Japan and India, among other
countries.
OCR
Abbreviation for optical character recognition.
It is a type of computer software designed to
translate images of a text and store them in a
format compatible with word-processing
programs. In addition to the text itself, it can
also detect the format and language.
PAL
Color-encoding system used in the broadcast of
analog television systems in most of the world,
PAL stands for phase alternating line.
Developed in Germany, it is used in most
African, Asian, and European countries, as well
as in Australia and some Latin American
countries.
Photoelectric Cell
Also known as photovoltaic cell, an electronic
device that is sensitive to light and that can
produce electricity from light. A group of
photoelectric cells is called a photovoltaic panel,
a device that converts solar radiation into
electricity.
Polymer
Organic macromolecule composed of smaller
molecules called monomers. The term is derived
from the Greek words polys, meaning “many,”
and meros, meaning “parts.”
Praxinoscope
Optical device invented in 1877 by Émile
Reynaud. It used a strip of pictures placed
around the inner surface of a series of spinning
cylinders. A system of mirrors allowed the
viewer, looking down into the cylinders, to
experience the illusion of motion. In 1889,
Reynaud developed the Théâtre Optique, an
improved version capable of projecting images
on a screen from a longer roll of pictures. This
precursor to animation was soon eclipsed in
popularity by the photographic film projector of
the Lumière brothers.
Propellant
In aerosol spray cans, the propellant is the gas
used to expel substances. CFCs were often used
until it was discovered that they had negative
effects on the atmosphere's ozone layer.
Another propellant used in aerosol containers is
butane.
Prostaglandin
Any member of a group of substances derived
from fatty acids containing 20 carbon atoms.
They are considered cellular mediators with a
variety of effects that are frequently in
opposition. The name “prostaglandin” derives
from prostate gland. When prostaglandin was
first isolated from seminal fluid in 1936, it was
believed to be part of the prostatic secretions.
In 1971, it was determined that acetylsalicylic
acid could inhibit the synthesis of
prostaglandins. The biochemists Sune K.
Bergström, Bengt I. Samuelsson, and John R.
Vane jointly received the 1982 Nobel Prize for
Physiology or Medicine for their research on
prostaglandins.
Recycling
Process of reusing parts or elements of an
object, technology, or device that can still be
used, despite belonging to something that has
already reached the end of its useful life.
Semiconductor
Substance that behaves like a conductor or an
insulator depending on the surrounding electric
field. Silicon is used to create most
semiconductors. Other semiconductor elements
are germanium, selenium, tellurium, lead,
antimony, sulfur, and arsenic.
SMS
Abbreviation for short message service. Usually
called text messaging, SMS is a means of
sending short messages to and from mobile
phones, landline phones, and other handheld
devices. SMS was originally designed as part of
the GSM (global system for mobile
communications) standard but is now available
on a wide range of networks, including 3G
(third-generation) networks.
Software
The set of programs and procedures that enable
a computer to perform specific tasks. The term
is used in contrast to the physical components of
the system (hardware).
Specific Weight
Weight per unit volume of a material. In the
United States, it is measured in pound-force per
cubic foot (lbf/cu ft). In the metric system, it is
measured in kgf/cu m, and in the International
System of Units, it is measured in N/cu m.
Stroboscope
Instrument used to make a cyclically moving
object appear to be stationary or slow moving.
It allows turning lights on and off at a given
interval any number of times. This device was
used on record turntables as an indicator that
the turntable was revolving at the right speed.
The stroboscopic effect is what creates, for
instance, the feeling of movement in a cartoon.
Telecommunications
Technique that allows the transmission of a
message from one point to another, usually
bidirectionally. The term is derived from the
Greek word tele, meaning “distance.” The term
encapsulates all forms of long-distance
communication (radio, telegraph, television,
telephone, data transmission, and computer
networks).
Thermodynamics
Branch of physics that studies energy—the way
it is transformed into its various manifestations,
such as heat, and its capacity to produce work.
It is closely related to statistical mechanics,
from which one can derive many
thermodynamic relationships. Thermodynamics
studies physical systems at the macroscopic
level, whereas statistical mechanics usually
describes the same phenomena at the
microscopic level.
Toner
Also known as “dry ink” because of its functional
similarity to ink, toner is a fine powder, usually
black, that is deposited on the paper to be
printed by way of electrostatic attraction. Once
the pigment adheres, it binds to the paper by
applying the necessary pressure or heat.
Because there are no liquids involved, the
process was originally called xerography, from
the Greek word xeros, meaning “dry.”
Transgenic
See GMO.
Transistor
Semiconductor electronic device used to amplify
electric currents, generate electric oscillations,
and perform modulation, detection, and
switching functions. Its name is a combination
of the words “transfer” and “resistor.”
Trigonometry
Trigonometry, which in Greek means “triangle
measure,” is a branch of mathematics that
TECHNOLOGY 95
studies angles, triangles, and the relationships
between them (trigonometric functions). There
is an enormous number of applications of
trigonometry. For example, the technique of
triangulation is used in astronomy to measure
the distance to nearby stars and in geography
to measure distances between landmarks; it is
also used in satellite navigation systems.
Tungsten
Tungsten, also called wolfram, is a chemical
element that has the atomic number 74 and
belongs to group 6 of the periodic table of
elements. Its symbol is W, and it is the only
chemical element with two common names.
Tungsten is a scarce metal that is found in
certain minerals located in the Earth's crust. It
is steel-gray in color, is very hard and heavy, and
has the highest melting point of all the elements.
It is used in light-bulb filaments, electrical
resistors, and (when alloyed with steel) tool
manufacturing.
Vein
In anatomy, a vein is a blood vessel that carries
blood from the capillaries toward the heart.
There are more veins in the human body than
arteries, and the precise locations of veins vary
much more from person to person.
Wavelength
In wave mechanics, wavelength is the distance,
measured in the direction of the propagating
wave, between repeating units of the
propagating wave at a given frequency, such as
peaks or adjacent valleys.
Zoetrope
Stroboscopic optical mechanism invented in
1834 by William George Horner. It consisted of
a cylinder with vertical slits cut along the sides.
The spectator looked through the slits at the
pictures on the opposite side of the cylinder's
interior. As the cylinder spun, the viewed images
produced the illusion of motion. It was a very
popular toy at the time and one of the
precursors of cinematography. The term is
derived from the Greek words zoe (“life”) and
trope (“turn”).
96 INDEX TECHNOLOGY 97

Index

computer, 6, 29, 38-39 digital information, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 46
A iPod interaction, 9
lateral movement, 26
pronation, 26
C access devices, 38
application software, 38
digital printing system, 46, 47
diode, 10, 18, 36
first discovered, 86
first photographed, 86
gaseous, 86
AbioCor artificial heart, 66, 67 structure, 26 cable television, 22, 41 computer chips, 29, 36-37 DNA, 61, 76-77 gravitational force, 87
abstraction, artificial intelligence, 78 types, 27 calculator, 6 expansion slot, 39 gene therapy, 76 hottest, 86
active circuit, 36 Atlas detector, Hadron Collider, 90 calotype, photography, 18 first computer, 28-29 structure, 77 indirect detection, 87
adenine, 76, 77 automated teller machine (ATM), 6 camcorder, 7 Internet, 40, 41 transcription, 76 most distant, 86
Adidas-1 athletic shoe, 75 camera, 12, 20 iPods, 9 disability, number of persons with, 63 most like Earth, 87
agriculture, 34, 76 See also digital camera laptop, 38 dog, robotic pet, 78 most massive, 86
AIBO (robot pet), 78 camera obscura, 18 memory, 39 DSL high-speed Internet connection, 41 oldest, 87
Al Burj Tower (United Arab Emirates),31
Aldebaran (star), 85
Alzheimer's disease, 56, 57
B cancer, diagnosing, 56
capacitor, 36
car, robots, 78
operating system, 38
operation, 39
personal computer, 38
DVD, 7, 14-15, 21
Blu-Ray, 15
evolution, 15
planetary systems, 87
redshift, 87
rocky, 87
amino acid, 76 Bacon, Roger, 43 carbon, nanotechnology, 72 scanners, 25 HD, 15 similarity to Earth, 87
analog information, 19, 20, 21 bar-code scanner, 24 Cassini mission, space exploration, 85 smart houses, 71 operation, 14-15 smallest, 86
animal, transgenic, 76 Betamax, 20 CCD (charge-coupled device), 18, 20 storage devices, 39 storage capacity, 14 stars, 87
Apollo missions, space exploration, 84 Big Bang, Hadron Collider, 91 CD (compact disc), 14, 15 computer chip, 29, 36-37 eyeglasses, 3D effect, 13
application software, 38 Binnig, Gerd, 88 cellular technology, 22, 23 computer scanner, 24
arm, bionic implants, 62 bionic implant, 62-63 cellular telephone, 23, 28, 32-33 computerized tomography (CT), 24, 54, 56, 57
artificial heart, 66-67
first permanent implant, 66
experimental bionic arm, 62
Proprio Foot, 63
Bluetooth technology, 22, 33
history and evolution, 32-33
concrete, skyscrapers, 30-31
cooking, microwave ovens, 23 E
implanted components, 67
operation,66-67
survival period, 67
biotechnology, 76-77
DNA, 76
gene therapy, 77
international calls, 33
iPhone, 33
operation, 32-33
Cougar (unmanned vehicle), 82
creative ability, 5
crystalline structure, 72
Eastman Kodak, 20
electric current, 22-23
F
artificial intelligence (AI), 5, 78-79 human cell, components, 76 roaming mode, 33 cursor, 38 electric light, 48 fabric, 74
ASIMO robot, 79 human genome, 77 chat service, Internet, 40 cutting-edge technology, 68-91 electromagnetic calorimeter, 91 fax, 6
automatic control cars, 78 transgenic organisms, 76, 77 chess, Deep Blue, 78, 79 cytoplasm, 76 electromagnetic radiation, 11 fiber-optic cable, Internet, 41
Deep Blue chess program, 78, 79 blog, 40 chromosome, 76 cytosine, 76, 77 electromagnetic spectrum, 22-23 film: See cinematography; IMAX technology
development milestones, 78-79 Blu-ray DVD, 15 cinema, invention, 5 electron microscope, 88 flat screen projection theater, 13
ELIZA computer program, 78 blue laser, 15 cinematography, 12, 28, 42-43 electronic mail, 40 flexography (printing), 47
humanoid robot, 79 blueshift, 87 color, 42, 43 Electronic Numerical Integrator and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), 56
pet robots, 78, 79
robots, 78, 79
Turing test, 78
Bluetooth wireless technology, 16, 17, 22, 33
Breazeal, Cynthia, 79
brown dwarf (star), 86
early projection systems, 43
evolution, 43
IMAX technology, 12-13, 42, 80
D Computer (ENIAC), first computer,
28-29
elementary particle, 90
follicular aspiration, 60
food
microwave ovens, 22, 23
artificial limb: See bionic implant browser, Internet, 40 movie set, 43 daguerreotype, 18 ELIZA (computer program), robots, 78 soldiers of the future, 83
artificial satellite, 33, 35, 40, 44, 84 building sound, 42 daily life, technology applications, 6-27, 32-33 Empire State Building (United States), 31 foot, bionic implants, 63
ASIMO (robot), 79 skyscrapers, 30-31 Technicolor camera, 43 data ephemerides (satellite), 35 4D ultrasound, 58-59
astronomy smart house, 70-71 3D movies, 12-13, 42 analog information, 19, 20, 21 Eros (asteroid), 85 Freddy (robot), 78
extrasolar planets, 86-87 Burj Dubai Tower (United Arab Emirates), clock, 5, 35 digital information, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 46 ERS-1 Satellite, 22 frequency, 22
lasers, 49 30-31 clothing: See smart clothing nanotechnology, 73 European Organization for Nuclear Research Furby, robotic pets, 79
Solar System exploration, 84-85 CMS detector, Hadron Collider, 91 data glove, 81 (CERN), 90 Future Force Warrior program, 83
athletic shoe, 26-27, 75 coaxial cable Internet connection, 41 Deep Blue (chess program), 78, 79 extrasolar planet, 86-87
Adidas-1, 75 communication: See cellular telephone; diffuser, LCDs, 10 blueshift, 87
biomechanics of racing, 27 Internet; television digital camera, 18-19, 20, 21 brown dwarf, 86
history and evolution, 26 companion robot, 68 digital fingerprint scanner, 25 closest, 86
98 INDEX TECHNOLOGY 99

laser, 48-49
G I human capacity for inventiveness, 4-5
Internet, 5, 21, 28, 40-41
laser, 48-49
beam formation, 48-49
DVDs, 14
map, GPS, 34-35
Mars, missions to, 84, 85
Matrix (movie trilogy), 80, 81
N
IMAX technology, 80 overview, 28-29 electric light compared, 48 Maxwell, James Clerk, 19 nanotechnology, 69, 72-73
Gabor, Dennis, 51
film, 12, 13 printing press, 5, 29, 40, 46-47 energy level, 49 McCarthy, John, 78 applications, 72-73, 74, 82, 83
game, Wii video game console, 16-17
filming, 12 recent breakthroughs, 28-51 holography, 50 McLuhan, Marshall, 46 defined, 72
GameCube, 16
invention, 42 skyscraper, 30-31 inventor, 48 medicine nanometer defined, 72
gamma-ray photon, 57
projection system, 12, 42 television, 6, 44-45 light generation, 49 artificial heart, 66-67 nanorobots, 4-5, 72
Garcia, Nicole, 42
screen, 12, 13, 42, 80 iPhone, 33 ruby, 48 bionic implant, 62-63 nanotubes, 72, 73
genetic defect, correcting, 77
sound, 12, 42 iPod, 8-9 stars, 49 biotechnology, 76, 77 Navstar GPS satellite, 35
genome, 76
theater, 12, 13, 42 ISP (Internet service provider), 40, 41 theoretical principles, 49 in vitro fertilization, 60-61 Neptune, missions to, 84, 85
Gliese 581 c (planet), 86, 87
35-mm movies compared, 13 iTunes, 8, 33 laser eye surgery, 52-53 laser eye surgery, 52-53 neuronal socket, 80
compared to Earth, 87
3D effects, 12-13, 42 LCD (liquid crystal display), 6, 9, 10-11 magnetic resonance imaging, 53, 54-55 Niépce, Nicéphore, 18
glucose, 56
in vitro fertilization, 60-61 application, 10 nanotechnology, 73 Nintendo Wii, 16-17
GPS (Global Positioning System), 28, 34-35
number of babies resulting from, 60 image formation, 11 overview, 52-53 Nipkow, Paul, 44
gravitational force, 87
gravitational microlensing, 86
guanine, 76, 77
Gutenberg, Johannes, 47
success rate, 61
inactive circuit, 36
information storage, from CD to Blu-ray, 15
J-K inside the screen, 10
light intensity, 11
light path, 11
positron emission tomography, 56-57
robotic surgery, 64-65
technological advances, 52-67
nucleotide, 76
Nunchuck, 17

information technology, impact, 38 Jin Mao Tower (China), 31 size, 11 ultrasound imaging, 58-59
integrated circuit, 37 JPG file, 19 video, 20 Mercury, missions to, 84
letterpress printing, 47

H
intelligence, nature of, 29
International Space Station, 84
Internet, 5, 21, 28, 40-41
Jupiter, missions to, 85
Kasparov, Garry, 78, 79
keyboard, computers, 38
life
expectancy, 5, 52
messenger RNA, 76
metabolism, 56
microscope, types, 88
O
browser, 40 Kilby, Jack, 37 extrasolar, existence of, 86 microwave, 22-23 offset printing, 47
chat, 40 Kismet (robot), 79 light communications, 23 Omnimax, 42
hadrionic calorimeter, 91
connection types, 41 Kodak camera, 19 composition, 49 oven, 22, 23 operating system, 38
Hadron Collider: See Large Hadron Collider
electronic mail, 40 lasers, 48 military optical disc, reading, 14
Halley's Comet, 85
router, 41 Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of GPS, 34 optical microscope, 88
HD DVD, 15
search engine, 40 Radiation: See laser soldiers of the future, 82-83 orbit (atom), energy level, 48
head-mounted display (HMD), 81
linear particle accelerator, 90
health: See medicine
heart, artificial, 66-67
Heilig, Morton, 81
service provider (ISP), 40, 41
smart houses, 70
social impact, 40
L linotype, 47
liquid crystal, 10, 11
virtual reality, 81
miniPod, 8
moai, Easter Island, 5
Liquid Crystal Display: See LCD
heliopause, 85
high-definition television, 11
Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD), 50
transmitting information via, 40-41
voice over IP, 40
Web site/Web page, 40
Land Warrior project, 82
laptop computer, 38
Large Hadron Collider (LHC), 90-91
lithography, 47
locomotive, invention, 5
modem (Modulator-Demodulator), 41
molecular computer, 38
monitor, computers, 38
P-Q
Internet service provider (ISP), 40, 41 Atlas detector, 90 Lumière brothers, 19, 43 Moon (Earth's), manned missions, 84 Paik, Nam June, 20
holography, 50-51
home movie, 14, 20 Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), 60 CMS detector, 91 morula, 61 PaPeRo (robot), 79
house, smart houses, 70-71 invention collision record, 91 motherboard, computers, 39 parallel port, 39
human cell, components, 76 cellular telephone, 23, 28, 32-33 electromagnetic calorimeter, 91 mouse, computers, 38 Parkinson disease, 57
human genome, 77
humanoid, robots, 79
cinematography, 12, 28, 42-43
computer, 6, 29, 38-39
computer chip, 29, 36-37
Hadrionic calorimeter, 91
linear particle accelerator, 90
muon detector, 91
M movable type, invention, 47
movie: See cinematography; IMAX
technology
personal computer, 38
pet robot
AIBO, 78
hydrogen (atom), magnetic resonance
Global Positioning System (GPS), 28, 34-35 silicon tracker, 91 magic lantern, 43 Mule (vehicle), 83 Furby, 79
imaging, 55
history and purpose, 5 superconducting magnets, 91 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 53, 54-55 muon detector, 91 Petronas Towers (Malaysia), 31
hypertext markup language (HTML), 40
holography, 50-51 tunnels, 90 Maiman, Theodore, 48 photography, 7
hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), 40
100 INDEX TECHNOLOGY 101

Simnet, 81 Super 8 film, 20 See also IMAX technology

basic principle, 18
cell phone, 33
color, 19
R skyscraper, 30-31
smart clothing, 69, 74-75
superconducting magnet, 54
surgery, robotic, 64-65
3D sound simulation, 80, 81
thymine, 76, 77
VCR system, first, 20
VHS, 20, 21
webcam, 21, 40
digital camera, 18-19 radar, invention, 44 athletic shoe, 26-27, 75 Sutherland, Ivan, 81 TIFF file, 19 See also DVD
history and evolution, 18-19 radiation, 49 fabric, 74 Titan (Saturn moon), 84, 85 video game, Wii console, 16-17
silver nitrate, 18 radio, 28 military uniform, 82, 83 tool, human inventiveness, 5 Video 2000, 21
video, 19 radiography, 54 minisensors, 74 track shoe, 27 videoconferencing, 33
See also cinematography
photon, 48, 49, 57
pituitary gland, 60
redshift, 87
refrigerator, 5
resistor, 36
nanotechnology, 73
uses, 74
smart house, 70-71
T transgenic organism, 76
transistor
thin-film, 11
virtual reality, 80-81
applications, 80
boots, 81
pixel, 11, 19, 20, 25, 38 retrovirus, 77 central system, 71 Taipei Tower (Taiwan), 31 traditional, 36 controllers, 81
planet ribosome, 76 comfort and economy, 70 Talbot, William, 18 transmission electron microscope, 88 data glove, 80, 81
extrasolar planets, 86-87 RNA, 76 primary functions, 70 TCP/IP protocol, Internet, 41 tunneling current, 88, 89 deceiving the senses, 80
solar system, 84-85 robot, 68-69, 78-79 remote connection, 71 technology tunneling effect (physics), 88, 89 entertainment, 80
plant, transgenic, 76 robotic surgery, 53, 64-65 security, 70 breakthrough inventions, 28-51 tunneling microscope, 88-89 helmet, 80, 81
polarizer, 11 robotics, 5, 72 soldier, 82-83 cutting-edge, 68-91 Turing test, 78 history and evolution, 81
positron, 57 Rohrer, Heinrich, 88 Future Force Warrior program, 83 daily-life applications, 6-27 images, 80
positron emission tomography (PET), 56-57 rotogravure printing, 47 helmet, 83 emergence, 5 Matrix trilogy, 81
image comparison of normal vs. Alzheimer's router, Internet, 41 Land Warrior project, 82 evolution, 6-7 Nintendo Wii, 16-17
disease, 57
minimum resolution, 57
tracer, following, 56
ruby laser, 48 uniform, 82, 83
unmanned vehicles, 82-83
weaponry, 83
milestones, 5
science and health, 52-67
telephone, cellular: See cellular telephone
U-V robotic surgery, 64
training simulators, 80, 81
VITA-2 (automatic control car), 78
uses, 56, 57 space exploration, 84-85 television, 6, 44-45 UAV (aircraft), 83 voice over IP, 40
praxinoscope, 42 ultrasound imaging, 58-59 VRML programming language, 80
pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, 60, 61
printed circuit board, 37
S Aldebaran, 85
beyond the solar system, 85
distance from Sun, 84-85
airwaves, 44
American vs. European, 45
cable, 21, 44
Unimation, 78
unmanned vehicle
printing press, 5, 29, 40, 46-47 satellite, artificial, 33, 35, 40, 44, 84 extrasolar planets, 86-87 digital technology, 44 Cougar, 82
authorship, notion of, 46
digital systems, 46, 47
non-digital systems, 46
Saturn, missions to, 85
scanner, 6, 24-25
bar-code, 24
extraterrestrial civilization, 85
flyby missions, 84
heliopause crossing, 85
high-definition, 11
interlaced scan, 45
LCD, 10, 11
maximum flight time, 82
Mule, 83
UAV, 83
W-Z
social and cultural impact, 40, 46 digital fingerprint, 25 International Space Station, 84 live, 7, 20 uracil, 76 waypoint, GPS, 34
technological advances timeline, 47 magnetic resonance imaging, 54 Solar System, 84, 85 origin, 44 Uranus, missions to, 84, 85 Web browser, 40
types of systems, 47 operation, 24-25 space probes, 84, 85 radar, invention of, 44 USB port, 39 Web site (Web page), 40
probability cloud, 89 types, 24-25 space shuttle, 84 reception, 45 VaMP (automatic control car), 78 webcam, 21, 40
production, systematizing, 5 uses, 24 unmanned spacecraft, 84 satellite, 44 VCR, invention, 20 Wi-Fi wireless connection, 16, 33, 41
Proprio Foot, bionic implants, 63 scanning electron microscope, 88 space probe, 84, 85 taping, 44 Venus, missions to, 84 Wii (video game console), 16-17
pseudo-random code, 35 scanning tunneling microscope (STM), 88-89 space shuttle, 84 3D, 44 VHS, 20, 21 Wiimote, 16
pyramid, construction, 5 Schulze, Frederick, 18 Spencer, Percy, 22 transmission, 44 video, 19, 20-21 Windows operating system, 38
QRIO (robot), 79 search engine, 40 sports video, switch to, 20 Betamax, 20 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), 33
quantum computer, 38 Sears Tower (United States), 31 athletic shoes, 27 text-recognition software, 24 evolution timeline, 20-21 World Trade Center (United States), 31
quantum mechanics, 48, 89 Senefelder, Alois, 47 GPS, 34 thin-film transistor (TFT), 11 formats, 21 World Wide Web, 40, 41
Sensorama, 81 star, extrasolar planets, 87 3D image image recorder, 20 X-ray, 54
serigraphy (printing), 47 Starfire Observatory, 49 holography, 51 reproduction and editing, 21 X3D programming language, 80
shoe, athletic: See athletic shoe steam engine, invention, 5 3D movie, 12-13, 42 storage, 21 zoetrope, 42
silver nitrate (photography), 18 steel, skyscrapers, 30-31 ultrasound, 59 television, 20, 44