MEMS

ALSO CALLED: Smart Matter, Microelectromechanical Systems, Microelectromechanical Devices, Microsystems, MST, Micro Electro-mechanical Devices, Micro Electromechanical Systems, SmartMatter, Micro-Electromechanical Systems
DEFINITION: Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is a technology that combines computers with tiny mechanical devices such as sensors, valves, gears, mirrors, and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips. Paul Saffo of the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California, believes MEMS or what he calls analog computing will be "the foundational technology of the next decade." MEMS is also sometimes called  … 
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MEMS DEFINITION (continued): …  smart matter.MEMS are already used as accelerometers in automobile air-bags. They've replaced a less reliable device at lower cost and show promise of being able to inflate a bag not only on the basis of sensed deceleration but also on the basis of the size of the person they are protecting. Basically, a MEMS device contains micro-circuitry on a tiny silicon chip into which some mechanical device such as a mirror or a sensor has been manufactured. Potentially, such chips can be built in large quantities at low cost, making them cost-effective for many uses.Among the presently available uses … 
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