Frontiers"Top 5 Cutting Edge Technologies Currently Under Research At

MIT Which Could Impact The World in a Large Way"

17 September 2002

Joost Bonsenjpbonsen@alum.mit.edu

617.930.0415

My Five Favorite MIT

5 Strategic MIT Technology Thrusts

1. Information Technologies = Ever more sophisticated computation & communication, leveraging mind & media.

2. Biomedical Technologies = Medical engineering, perfecting the health & life sciences.

3. Tiny Technologies = Investigating and fabricating ever smaller systems, at scales from micro thru nano

4. Complex Systems = Large scale, socio-political & econo-technological systems.

5. Developmental Innovations = Appropriate and leapfrog technologies for tackling challenges in developing & emerging regions

MIT Technology Biz Matrix1. Info

2. Bio

3. Tiny

4.Cmplex Systems

5. Devel-opmental

MIT Research

LCS/AI, Media, 6

HST, BEH, 7

MTL, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16

SDM, Aero, 6, 15, 14, 13

Digital Nations, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11

Sloan Research

eBiz, Mkting

POPI, ? ? System Dynamics, Tech Strat

Econ, Global Entrepreneurship

SloanCourses

ITBT, eBiz

Bio-venture

TES SysDyn, Strat, OR,

Global E-lab, DE

SloanExtracur

Media-Tech

Health-Tech

TinyTech OR, SDK12, etc

SEID

MIT Alum Startups

Akamai, DirectHit

Amgen,BiogenGen’tec

Surface, eink, Angstr’m

HP, Raytheon, Teradyne

AfricaOnline, Evergreen Solarhttp://web.media.mit.edu/~jpbonsen/MIT-Emerging-Technology-Matrix.htm

1. Information Technologies

• Computation• Communication• Intelligence• Automation• Encryption• Media

Source: Donna Coveney, MIT / Cynthia Breazeal

SensAble TechnologiesChan LIDS

NASAa.k.a Software

http://www.caida.org/

Pervasive Computing

within IT…

Project Oxygen

• Human Centered Computing

• Acer, Delta, HP, NTT, Nokia, Philips, darpa

http://oxygen.lcs.mit.edu/

MIT Media Lab Wearables

http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/index.html

http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/wearfolk-sam-big.jpg

Media Lab Smart Nametags

http://web.media.mit.edu/~fredm/projects/memetag/mtsmall.jpg

http://el.www.media.mit.edu/groups/el/papers/mres/lifelongk/Image26.gif

http://www.microopticalcorp.com/

Pervasive Implications

• Immersive Info – Remembrance agents, face reminders, seamless PDAs

• Premier Digital Infospace – Next generation libraries, info databases & visualization environments

• Evocative Architectural Innovations – Digital Glass, Organic HVAC controls

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2001/06/08/xircom_review.html

http://www.emperorlinux.com/acc_network.html

http://www.handspring.com/http://www.futurelooks.com/features/Lifestyle/Wearable_comps/page1_frame.htm

http://www-5.ibm.com/se/news/archive/images/computers/wearable-pc/wearable-pc-closseup-guy.jpg

2. Biomedical Technologies

• Applied Biology, Biotechnology

• Diagnostics, imaging

• Therapeutics, pharmaceuticals

• Invasive or Non-Invasive Devices

• InstrumentationSource: John Santini

http://gn.www.media.mit.edu/resenv/telemed/http://www.media.mit.edu/nanoscale/research/sensors.html

a.k.a Wetware

Neurotechnology

within BioMedical…

Brain & Cognitive Sciences;Increasingly,

Neurotechnology

McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchMartinos Imaging Center

Picower Center for Learning & MemoryBCS Department

RLE, AI Lab…Patrick McGovern & Lore Harp McGovern

http://idg.com/www/docs.nsf/docs/McGoverns?OpenDocument&region=WW

                                                                                                         

Neurodiagnostic Imaging & Probes

http://rabi.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~adunn/speckle/index.html http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/

Decision, Emotion, Addiction, & Habit Analysis

http://lfe.mit.edu/media/snow04-08-02.htm

Psychophysiology of Real-time Trading

http://web.mit.edu/alo/www/Papers/repin.pdf

http://affect.media.mit.edu/AC_research/images/AC_system_sketch2.jpg

Affective Computing

Artificial Senses

http://rleweb.mit.edu/graphics/oculimp.jpg

http://rleweb.mit.edu/graphics/ph97-71a.jpg

http://rleweb.mit.edu/Publications/currents/9-2cov.htm

Retina

Cochlea

Nerve Regeneration

http://web.mit.edu/bcs/brainlunch/schedule/schneider.gif

Neurons grown on Peptide Scaffold

http://web.mit.edu/lms/www/images/shuguang.jpg

3. Tiny Technologies

• MicroPhotonics• Materials: smart,

active, living, rugged• MEMS: micro-electro-

mechanical• NEMS:

nanotechnology, NanoStructures

• NanoMedia• Quantum Dots,

Computing• Fabrication techniques

http://amsl.mit.edu/research/projects.gif

Joe Jacobson

Lieber Science 289: 94-97

Montemagno Group

Kerrebrock Group

a.k.a Hardware

Nanobiotechnology

within TinyTech…

Simple molecules<1nm

IBM PowerPC 750TM Microprocessor

7.56mm×8.799mm6.35×106 transistors

semiconductor nanocrystal (CdSe)5nm

10-10 10-510-9 10-7 10-610-8 10-4 10-3 10-2

m

Circuit designCopper wiringwidth 0.2m

red blood cell~5 m (SEM)

DNAproteins nm

bacteria1 m

Nanometer memory element(Lieber)1012 bits/cm2 (1Tbit/cm2)

Engineering at Different Scales: Dimensions in Silicon and in Biology

SOI transistorwidth 0.12m

Source: Molecular Machines (Jacobson) Group

diatom30 m

ActiveMaterials

Source: http://amsl.mit.edu/

research/projects.gif

Prostheses&

Exo-Skeletons

http://www.discover.com/images/apr01_ft1.jpg http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/images/prototype11201.jpg

Drawing Inspiration & More from Biology

• Ribosomes• Flagellar

Motors• Muscles• …

http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/biophysics/Intro.html

http://www.rae.org/revev6.htmlhttp://www.rcsb.org/pdb/molecules/pdb10_1.html

http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/tk/ce/flagella-s.gif

http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookAnimalTS.html

http://www.kapili.com/f/art/filament1.gif

Institute for Soldier

Nanotechnology

Thomas

• Protective Suits

• Human Augmentation

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2001/200105153a.jpg

What Might the Future Soldier Wear?

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/nr/2002/isn.html

http://www.horizoncomics.com/radix/

“It looks a lot likeScience Fiction!”

-- MIT Student & Comic Book Fan

Protective Suits,Living Suits

http://www.eig.net/level%20one/technical.html

http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/07/14/contaminated.spacesuit.02/nasa.spacesuit.jpg

http://www.robots.org/images/exoskeleton-4.jpghttp://web.mit.edu/jblaya/www/project/seireg1.jpg

Life-LikeAutomata

http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/cog/current-projects.html

http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/living-machines/projects/self-feeding.shtml

http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/tk/ce/microbial-engineering.html

http://web.mit.edu/biophysics/movies/vort2.AVI

CellularRobotics

4. Complex Systems

• Environmental

• Big Systems: space, air traffic, 777, power grid, internet

• Social: Organizational, entrepreneurial, business, cultural

a.k.a. Messyware

http://www.nasm.si.edu/apollo/FIGURES/Fig42a.jpg

Sociotechnology

within Complex Systems…

Sensing, Modeling & Understanding Social

Systems…• Supply Chains• Business Cycles• Economies• Urban Dynamics• World Dynamics

…Enough to Improve their Dynamics!

Social Net Analysis & Facilitation

• Understanding social relationshiops

• Guiding flows of information

• Real knowledge management

• Orchestrating Serendipity

http://www.netvis.org/

FacilitatorRoom

Dynamic Visualization

http://whitechapel.media.mit.edu/facilitator/introduction.html

Predictive Microcosms

http://www.cothink.com/Papers/phdthesis.pdf

Supply Chain Volatility Amplification:“The Bullwhip Effect”

Customer Retailer Distributor Factory Tier 1 Supplier

Information lagsDelivery lagsOver- and underorderingMisperceptions of feedbackLumpiness in orderingChain accumulations

SOLUTIONS:Countercyclical MarketsCountercyclical TechnologiesCollaborative channel mgmt. (Cincinnati Milacron & Boeing)

Equipment

Source: Fine, MIT

Management “Flight Simulators”

http://web.mit.edu/jsterman/www/SDG/beergame.html

http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/screens/wright.jpg

http://www.glasswings.com.au/reviews/simcity2.jpg

“Beer Game”

UrbanDynamics

Moore’s Law

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010103

104

105

106

107

108

109

Transistors per chip

Year

80786PentiumPro

Pentium80486

8038680286

8086

80804004

?

Source: Joel Birnbaum, HP, Lecture at APS Centennial, Atlanta, 1999

Source: Fine, MIT

101 100 10-1102

104

106

108

Number of chip components

Feature size (microns)

1010

1012

1018

1014

1016

10-2 10-3

Classical Age

Historical Trend

SIA Roadmap2010

CMOS

19952000

2005

1970

1980

1990

Roadmap for Electronic Devices

4oK

Quantum Age

77oK

295oK

Quantum State Switch

Horst D. SimonSource: Fine, MIT

Components of MIT’s Interwoven Technology

Roadmapping Effort1. Business cycle dynamics (e.g., systems dynamics-

like models of the bullwhip effect)2. Industry structure dynamics (e.g., rigorous version

of the double helix in Fine’s Clockspeed book)3. Corporate strategy dynamics (e.g., dynamicize

Porter-like analyses for players in the value chain)4. Technology dynamics (e.g., the Semiconductor

Industry Association's roadmap built around Moore's law)

5. Regulatory Policy Dynamics (e.g. Cross-National, Cross Sector

Source: Fine, MIT

Performance inOrganizations

http://web.mit.edu/nelsonr/www/NobodyEverV2_0-sub_doc.pdf

5. Developmental Innovations

• Development Technologies

• MicroFinance• Developmental

Entrepreneurship• Sensible Policy

Ravi Kuchimanchi, AID-India

http://www.thinkcycle.org

Murcott Group, Civil Engineering http://www.thinkcycle.org

Evergreen Solar

http://www.simputer.org/

a.k.a Everywhere

Exponential Technologies

within Development…

Exponential Technologies

Hi-Leverage & Transformative

e.g. Portable Computers for the people

e.g. Cellphones per village

e.g. Intellectual capital development via school or innovator network system

e.g. Financial & Legal infrastructure

ExponentiallyGrowing,

Accelerating;

LeapfrogQuality

Two Dimensions

PERFORMANCE

• Functionality goes exponential for a given amount of money

• Price plummets exponentially for a given amount of functionality or performance

• PENETRATION

• Diffusion is exponential and fast, possibly viral

Infocom: Webios

• Web analog to transistor radio

• Simputer http://www.simputer.org/http://www.picopeta.com/

http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/transistor.htmlhttp://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/2001/06/03/fea10.htmlhttp://www.media.mit.edu/windup/

Infocom: Universal Translator

• Reduce misunderstandings

• Increase flow of trade

• Teaching tool

http://www.zdnet.com/computershopper/edit/cshopper/content/9806/309164.htmlhttp://www.via-pc.com/

Infocom: Printed Electronics

• Printed PCs?• Printed PDAs?• Electronic Ink

applications

Jacobson Group, Media Lab

Nishi Group, Media Lab

http://www.media.mit.edu/molecular/projects.htmlhttp://www.eink.com/

Eink, Media Lab Spinoff

Health: Penny Diagnostics

• Disease• Contamination• Analogous to pH or

Litmus paper• Telediagnostics

http://gn.www.media.mit.edu/resenv/telemed/http://www.media.mit.edu/nanoscale/research/sensors.html

Finance: MicroCredit, MicroFinance, MicroVC

• Credit = loans and lines of credit, debt

• Finance = more general financial services

• VC = risk capital, equity

• Monetizing Social Capital

http://www.accion.org/main.asphttp://www.endeavor.org/http://www.grameen.org http://www.uncdf.org/sum/…

Education: OpenSource Ideation & Training

e.g.OpenCourseWare / Distance Learning

• Bringing MIT to the world instead of the world to MIT

• Generalizing• Talent

identification

http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/o/ocw/

Richly Interwoven MIT Themes

2. BioTech 3. TinyTech

1. InfoTech

4. Complex Systems

5. Developmental Innovations

Fin