Most of the technologies that mankind has developed to date cannot be applied to nanotechnology in their present form, and so new technologies have to be developed for every stage of manufacturing at the nano level.

One of the biggest challenges we face at the moment is developing the technologies for commercial production. While nanotech products, such as ultrahigh-speed computers and internal medical treatment systems, would have a huge impact if brought to the market, commercial production depends upon the feasibility of making them available at reasonable cost to as many people as possible. Where such matters are concerned, we are still largely fumbling around in the dark.

If we go one step further to consider exactly what society or individuals expect of nanotechnology, social circumstances and market forces come into play, making the formulation of any definite answers difficult. However, one of the major features of nanotechnology is that it offers all sorts of promising possibilities that would also impose very minimally on the natural environment. This is a very important factor to consider when pondering what we can hope to gain from nanotechnology.

In short, the products of nanotechnology are likely to provide tremendous benefits without making huge energy demands or impacting adversely on the natural environment.