Visions of the Future: Physics and Electronics [Paperback]

J. M. T. Thompson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521805384 | ISBN-13: 978-0521805384 | Publication Date: July 2, 2001

What does the future of science hold? Who is making the discoveries that will help shape this future? What areas of research show the greatest promise? Find definitive and insightful answers to such questions as these in the three volumes of Visions of the Future: Astronomy and Earth Science, Chemistry and Life Science, and Physics and Electronics. Representing a careful selection of authoritative articles published in a special issue of Philosophical Transactions--the world's longest-running scientific journal--the chapters explore such themes as:

The Big Bang

Humankind's exploration of the solar system

The deep interior of the Earth

Global warming and climate change

Atoms and molecules in motion

New materials and processes

Nature's secrets of biological growth and form

Understanding the human body and mind

Quantum physics and its relationship to relativity theory and human consciousness

Exotic quantum computing and data storage

Telecommunications and the Internet Written by leading young scientists, the timely contributions convey the excitement and enthusiasm that they have for their research and a preview of future research directions. J.M.T. Thompson is Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics and Director of the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics at University College London. Professor Thompson has published widely on instabilities, bifurcations, catastrophe theory and chaos. He was a Senior SERC Fellow, served on the IMA Council, and, in 1985, was awarded the Ewing Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Currently, he is Editor of the Royal Society's Philosophical Transactions (Series A) which is the world's longest running scientific journal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Enjoyable and a useful reference." Optics and Photonics News

Book Description

Writing in a popular and well illustrated style, leading young scientists describe their research and give their visions of future developments. Topics include quantum physics and its relation to relativity theory and human consciousness; electronics for the future; exotic quantum computing and data storage; developments in telecommunications and the internet. Introduced by Roger Penrose, the book conveys the excitement and enthusiasm of the young authors. The book offers definitive reviews for anyone with a general interest in the future directions of science.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521805384
• ISBN-13: 978-0521805384
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,467,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can Computers Still Improve?, January 2, 2004

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This review is from: Visions of the Future: Physics and Electronics (Paperback)

Perhaps you read Scientific American? If so, and you are comfortable with the level of treatment, then how about the British equivalent? That is basically the level of treatment in this book of research topics at the boundary of physics and engineering.

The most relevant chapters are probably those discussing how we can take the semiconductor progress and keep pushing, pushing and pushing it ever onwards. Moore's Law, you understand. Current industry techniques may give us another 10 years. But what then? Various new physical phenomena are suggested in the book as possible novel ways to encode and change information. Of course, when these will prove economically feasible is totally open at this time. But you can hope.

On a "purer" note, the book also has a fascinating discussion of how human consciousness may derive from fundamental physical processes. Think of this as continuing the narrative from Roger Penrose's "Emperor's New Mind"...