Tremendous human progress is becoming possible through the development of converging technologies stimulated by advances in four core fields: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology Information technology, and new technologies based in Cognitive science (NBIC). This book provides a unique review of technical developments related to the unification that is rapidly taking place today among these fields. It assesses potential for revolutionary applications of these developments and their likely impact in improving the human condition. The essays included in the book offer a wide variety of scholarly views on the likely societal impacts and policy implications of these developments and applications, including assessments of educational, economic, commercial, legal, ethical, political, and social implications. This is the third in a series of such volumes on converging technologies edited by Drs. Roco and Bainbridge, the first of which is also available from Springer.