Samenvatting

In an increasingly technology-driven world it is natural to ask what exactly are the expectations and limitations of novel technologies in a particular domain. Military technology has a high-tech imago that is not always justified by the facts. However there is no doubt that the military is a powerful endorser of novel technologies. Even in the absence of a full-fledged war technological developments are stimulated by "peace-keeping" missions and anti-terrorism operations in the name of homeland security. In an industrialized world it is obvious that the military industry is a powerful economic driver, in which a substantial amount of GNP is spent. In this article the author reviews current and future technological developments and will focus on materials science and its influence on computing hardware and sensor technology.