The document discusses the history and development of nanotechnology. It defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. This covers both current work and more advanced concepts to construct items from the bottom up using today's techniques. Important developments include the atomic force microscope and scanning tunneling microscope in the 1980s. As of 2008, over 800 nanotechnology products were available commercially, mostly using passive nanomaterials like titanium dioxide, carbon, silver, zinc oxide, and cerium oxide.