Product Details

• Actors: Richard Feynman
• Directors: Faustin Bray
• Producers: Sound Photosynthesis
• Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC, PAL
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1.0
• Studio: Sound Photosynthesis
• Run Time: 80.0 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BKOMY4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #516,011 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Richard Feynman originated the idea of nanotechnology, or molecular machines, in the 1950s. Here he explains the idea to a general audience, and illustrates it using slides and diagrams. The talk is amusing, entertaining, informative and a classic in the history of technology. One of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century, this man located the problem with the Space Shuttle Challenger during the hearings. On this tape he talks about the tiniest tools and the fascinating way they work. Tom Van Sant's eye art piece is discussed and pictured in the video.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic lecture, by the man himself. For scientists and laypersons., August 7, 2005

By 

Creon Levit (San Francisco, California USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tiny Machines: The Feynman Lecture on Nanotechnology (DVD)

Richard Feynman is the originator of the idea of constructing molecular machines - what we now call "nanotechnology". He first lectured about this idea in the early 1960s, but those lectures were never recorded. But here, in this DVD, we are fortunate enough to see Feynman giving an updated version of that classic lecture, this time in 1984, to an audience of scientists and nonscientists alike. It is a pleasure to watch the master speak, explain, interact, joke, and answer questions. He dicusses the fundamental ideas behind nanotechnology, and the uses of nanotechnology in computers, biology, science, and even in art.

In the mid 1990s, I was one of the founders of the computational molecular nanotechnology group at NASA Ames Research Center - the first nanotechnology R&D group at a federal government lab. When they told us we were crazy, that nanotechnology was "science fiction", I showed them the previous VHS version of "Tiny Machines" from Sound Photosynthesis.

There he was, Richard Feynman, the man who not only won the Nobel physics prize, but also the man who had just recently found and plainly showed the world what had caused the loss of the space shuttle Challenger. There he was, explaining nanotechnology in plain english. If we were crazy, then we were in good company.

Today, of course, the idea of nanotechnology has become a part of the popular culture and we are even seeing some nanotechnology-based products entering the marketplace. From science fiction to reality in 10 years. And Feynman saw it, and understood it, first, 20 years before anyone.

You even get to see a few teasers of him playing the conga drums. But don't worry if that leaves you wanting more: The good folks at Sound Photosynthesis had the forsight to record, archive, edit, and produce several excellent Feynman lectures - first on videotape and now on DVD.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to nanotechnology and Feynman's work, March 4, 2007

By 

A. Jacobson, Ph. D. (Encinitas, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiny Machines: The Feynman Lecture on Nanotechnology (DVD)

This is an excellent introduction to the topic for those familiar with the field of nanotechnology or not. It also gives a very meaningful introduction to Richard Feynman, showing his wit, personality, brilliance, and ease of explaining a complex topic. It is a real pleasure to see such a key thinker in a prime discourse, and to gain an understanding of the potential of nanotechnology in innumerable areas. As the 21st century unfolds, it is interesting to see how soon the predictions that Feynman made have and will come true.

For those with an interest to know more about Feynman, nanotech or related areas, I have found a lot of great follow-on material from the same source, Sound Photosynthesis.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but a bit light., September 26, 2005

By 

Charles R. Szmanda (Westborough, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tiny Machines: The Feynman Lecture on Nanotechnology (DVD)

It is clear from this DVD that everything that came out of Feynman's mouth was not such a pearl of wisdom. While he didn't exactly say anything wrong, he did not offer a lot of new insight into the concept of nanotechnology. It was clear that, while he knew, in general, about MEMS technology and silicon device fabrication, he did not offer anything but an introduction to an audience that knew little or nothing about physics.

The discussion degenerated into a Q and A that had little to do with science and a lot to do with science fiction. Feynman, to his credit, was good natured as he waded through the questions one by one.

It was fun to watch and nice to see Feynman playing the bongos one more time.