NanotechnologyJeremy Rifkin wrote, in his article Biotech Century: Playing Ecological Roulette with Mother Natures Design, "Humans have been remaking the Earth for as long as we have a history." Well, the historical path that humans have chosen to take also affects the way we reshape the Earth. In Neal Stephenson's novel, The Diamond Age, it is shown how the technology of the time reshapes the political, economic, and educational aspects of history. This technology involves manipulating molecules in atomic-sized machines called nanomachines. Stephenson brilliantly shows how such a powerful and truly revolutionary technology as nanotechnology could change life, as we know it now, or as it will be known in the future. Nanotechnology, as it exists in the diamond age, is well developed and widely used. Matter compilers use nanotechnology to make most mass consumer products, and most matter compilers are powered by resource providers called Feeds. Those who control the Feeds control nanotechnology and hold great political and economic power. These same individuals or groups of individuals called phyles usually represent those who hold most of the wealth and political influence in the world. That power and wealth then causes the wealthy citizen or phyle to take for granted what he possesses so well. Such things include the best education, nicest material possessions, inheritance, and even responsibility. However, what if the same technology that made the privileged was given to the masses, rich or poor, with the tools and talents to implement that technology? In a way, making that same power that the upper class took for granted a great equalizer for society to play with. This is what ... middle of paper ... would be excluded from the reach of nanotechnology. Political power could be created and destroyed in a day; education would no longer be a problem in the sense in which the ignorant are; the world would no longer seem to get smaller because we could make it bigger if necessary and if there was no more room to expand, we could always expand. The power of nanotechnology might seem like a blessing, but if nanotechnology were truly as capable as Neal Stephenson created it, then I would ask for the assignment to be transferred, probably to a more primitive planet. Cited Rifkin, Jeremy. The century of biotechnology: playing ecological roulette with the design of Mother Nature, the presence of others. 3rd edition. Eds. Lunsford, Andrea. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 2000. (244-254) Stephenson, Neal. The era of diamonds. New York: Bantam Books. 1995.