This document discusses the evolving definition and meaning of technology assessment (TA). It tracks how TA originated in the late 1960s focused on policy analysis and societal impacts of technology, and how the definition and practice has expanded over time. TA is now seen as integrated with technology monitoring, forecasting, and aimed at facilitating sustainable development and technology management. The document also compares TA to other forms of impact assessment such as environmental impact assessment.
B. Ă . Lundvall | Alan Freeman
07 Jan, 2:00 pm â 3:00 pm GMT
Online
LECTURE 1: FREEMAN CENTENARY LECTURE 'Innovation System Research and Economic Development '
by
Professor Bengt-Ă ke Lundvall, Aalborg University, Denmark.
The session is chaired by Professor Alan Freeman, Director - Geopolitical Economy Research Group (GERG).
B. Ă . Lundvall | Alan Freeman
07 Jan, 2:00 pm â 3:00 pm GMT
Online
LECTURE 1: FREEMAN CENTENARY LECTURE 'Innovation System Research and Economic Development '
by
Professor Bengt-Ă ke Lundvall, Aalborg University, Denmark.
The session is chaired by Professor Alan Freeman, Director - Geopolitical Economy Research Group (GERG).
Assessing the regulatory challenges of emerging disruptive technologiesAraz Taeihagh
Â
The past decade has witnessed the emergence of many technologies that have the potential to fundamentally alter our economic, social, and indeed personal lives. The problems they pose are in many ways unprecedented, posing serious challenges for policymakers. How should governments respond to the challenges given that the technologies are still evolving with unclear trajectories? Are there general principles that can be developed to design governance arrangements for these technologies? These are questions confronting policymakers around the world and it is the objective of this special issue to offer insights into answering them both in general and with respect to specific emerging disruptive technologies. Our objectives are to help better understand the regulatory challenges posed by disruptive technologies and to develop generalizable propositions for governments' responses to them.
Beyond Good and Evil: Rethinking the Social Components in our Computing Curri...Randy Connolly
Â
Presentation for my talk at the 2011 ITiCSE (Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education) conference in Germany.
My paper and talk critique the most common way of teaching the social and professional issues part of the computer science curriculum, which is to focus on the ethical evaluation of "impacts" caused by computing technology.
This presentation argues that this approach has a number of drawbacks. First, it is based on a technological deterministic style of social explanation that has been in disrepute in the academic social sciences for decades. Second, it uses an algorithmic approach to ethics that simplifies the social complexity and the uncertainty that is the reality of socio-technological change.
Introduction to Technology Assessments As tool for Forecasting and evaluation...Premsankar Chakkingal
Â
TA is a scientific, interactive and communicative process, which aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology
Techno-government networks: Actor-Network Theory in electronic government res...FGV Brazil
Â
The Actor-Network Theory (ANT) is a theoretical approach for the study of controversies associated with scientific discoveries and technological innovations through the networks of actors involved in such actions. This approach has generated studies in Information Systems (IS) since 1990, however few studies have examined the use of this approach in the e-government area. Thus, this paper aims to broaden the theoretical approaches on e-government, by presenting ANT as a theoretical framework for e-government studies via published empirical work. For this reason, the historical background of ANT is described, duly listing its theoretical and methodological premises. In addition to this, one presented ANT-based e-government works, in order to illustrate how ANT can be applied in empirical studies in this knowledge area.
Date: 2016
Authors:
Fornazin, Marcelo
Joia, Luiz Antonio
The concept of systems of denial was introduced in a paper by Andrew Hill and Stephen Gerras about strategic resistance to military innovation. They explored how successful organizations focus organizational energy and attention on refining their dominant theories of competition, often resulting in dysfunctional organizational responses, or systems of denial, to strategic anomalies - inconvenient information - that contradict assumptions.
The behavior patterns of these systems apply not only to successful armies, but also to e.g. IT-departments, businesses and the public sector.
It may be obvious that smarter ways of creating and executing policies will be prime targets for systems of denial. Organizations that want to innovate by implementing systems based on contextual intelligence, cognitive computing, robotic process automation (RPA) and similar smart systems for various types of knowledge workers, must be extremely alert to spot resistance symptoms.
This paper outlines trends in the development of high-profile new technologies such as nano- and bio-technology, identifying roles foresight and governance practices must play to enable their usage in addressing âwickedâ problems (e.g. climate change). We explain the notion of emerging technologies, and their expected convergences, and consider both their potential and issues faced in the Australian context. Recent trends and emerging issues â such as slower, more problematic development and adoption than expected, and increasingly global competition to establish âfuture industriesâ â are reviewed to identify a set of imperatives. These imperatives highlight emerging opportunities and challenges, focussing on how examining alternative futures and perspectives may help enable effective responses to emerging technologies.
Four-pagePaper on Historical FigureEvent in Public Relations .docxshericehewat
Â
Four-page
Paper on Historical Figure/Event in Public Relations History
After watching "A Walk Through the 20th Century: The Image Makers"
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzQyoEphlXY video and reading Chapter 4 "Historical Origins and Evolution" âEffective Public Relations,â 11th edition, Glen M. Broom and Bey-Ling Sha please find an interesting public relations historic person, or event that has had a significant impact on the PR profession and write a detailed, four-page double-spaced paper about that person or event. Be sure to provide examples of the specific impacts this person has had on the PR industry and how they helped to influence the profession such as: started the first international PR agency, paved the way for women in the public relations field, promoted some of the biggest consumer brands in history such as Coca-Cola, etc.Â
Format your paper in AP, APA, or MLA format.  Please include a separate Works Cited (References) page and include 3-5 professional sources.  Citations should also be cited in the body of your paper.  Professional sources for this assignment may include relevant industry trade publications such as PRWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, etc., as well as news publications such as The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, etc., in addition to scholarly journals. Wikipedia may be consulted, but it is not considered a professional source and should not be counted toward your 3-5 professional sources.Â
Please pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation and have your paper proofread before submitting it. Points will be deducted for unprofessional work/typos.
Please address the following in your paper and section your paper with the following section headers:
1) Overview on this historical figure and/or event (who are they, who did they work for, what projects did they work on, what did they do?)
2) Why this person and/or event is interesting to you
3) What significance/impact does this person/event have on the field of public relations? (Why should we care about this person and/or event?)
Excellent Ratings:Met all criteria and exhibited comprehensive & thoughtful analysis.
For full points: Evaluation/Grading:
(Followed instructions, comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of the topic, no spelling, or grammatical errors).
JISTEM - Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management
Vol. 14, No. 1, Jan/Apr., 2017 pp. 21-38
ISSN online: 1807-1775
DOI: 10.4301/S1807-17752017000100002
JISTEM, Brazil Vol. 14, No. 1, Jan/Apr., 2017 pp. 21-38 www.jistem.fea.usp.br
THE LITERATURE REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION MODELS
AND THEORIES FOR THE NOVELTY TECHNOLOGY
PC Lai
Help University, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This paper contributes to the existing literature by comprehensively reviewing the concepts,
applications and development of technology adoption models and theories based on the literature
review with the focus on potential application for the nove ...
Chapter 13 stse the influence of modern society on science and technologyDennise Sisican
Â
Science and Technology, Society and Environment.
The video in the second slide and the last part of the presentation is not available due to the capacity of the slideshare that does not support on the video clip provided in the presentation.
Assessing the regulatory challenges of emerging disruptive technologiesAraz Taeihagh
Â
The past decade has witnessed the emergence of many technologies that have the potential to fundamentally alter our economic, social, and indeed personal lives. The problems they pose are in many ways unprecedented, posing serious challenges for policymakers. How should governments respond to the challenges given that the technologies are still evolving with unclear trajectories? Are there general principles that can be developed to design governance arrangements for these technologies? These are questions confronting policymakers around the world and it is the objective of this special issue to offer insights into answering them both in general and with respect to specific emerging disruptive technologies. Our objectives are to help better understand the regulatory challenges posed by disruptive technologies and to develop generalizable propositions for governments' responses to them.
Beyond Good and Evil: Rethinking the Social Components in our Computing Curri...Randy Connolly
Â
Presentation for my talk at the 2011 ITiCSE (Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education) conference in Germany.
My paper and talk critique the most common way of teaching the social and professional issues part of the computer science curriculum, which is to focus on the ethical evaluation of "impacts" caused by computing technology.
This presentation argues that this approach has a number of drawbacks. First, it is based on a technological deterministic style of social explanation that has been in disrepute in the academic social sciences for decades. Second, it uses an algorithmic approach to ethics that simplifies the social complexity and the uncertainty that is the reality of socio-technological change.
Introduction to Technology Assessments As tool for Forecasting and evaluation...Premsankar Chakkingal
Â
TA is a scientific, interactive and communicative process, which aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology
Techno-government networks: Actor-Network Theory in electronic government res...FGV Brazil
Â
The Actor-Network Theory (ANT) is a theoretical approach for the study of controversies associated with scientific discoveries and technological innovations through the networks of actors involved in such actions. This approach has generated studies in Information Systems (IS) since 1990, however few studies have examined the use of this approach in the e-government area. Thus, this paper aims to broaden the theoretical approaches on e-government, by presenting ANT as a theoretical framework for e-government studies via published empirical work. For this reason, the historical background of ANT is described, duly listing its theoretical and methodological premises. In addition to this, one presented ANT-based e-government works, in order to illustrate how ANT can be applied in empirical studies in this knowledge area.
Date: 2016
Authors:
Fornazin, Marcelo
Joia, Luiz Antonio
The concept of systems of denial was introduced in a paper by Andrew Hill and Stephen Gerras about strategic resistance to military innovation. They explored how successful organizations focus organizational energy and attention on refining their dominant theories of competition, often resulting in dysfunctional organizational responses, or systems of denial, to strategic anomalies - inconvenient information - that contradict assumptions.
The behavior patterns of these systems apply not only to successful armies, but also to e.g. IT-departments, businesses and the public sector.
It may be obvious that smarter ways of creating and executing policies will be prime targets for systems of denial. Organizations that want to innovate by implementing systems based on contextual intelligence, cognitive computing, robotic process automation (RPA) and similar smart systems for various types of knowledge workers, must be extremely alert to spot resistance symptoms.
This paper outlines trends in the development of high-profile new technologies such as nano- and bio-technology, identifying roles foresight and governance practices must play to enable their usage in addressing âwickedâ problems (e.g. climate change). We explain the notion of emerging technologies, and their expected convergences, and consider both their potential and issues faced in the Australian context. Recent trends and emerging issues â such as slower, more problematic development and adoption than expected, and increasingly global competition to establish âfuture industriesâ â are reviewed to identify a set of imperatives. These imperatives highlight emerging opportunities and challenges, focussing on how examining alternative futures and perspectives may help enable effective responses to emerging technologies.
Four-pagePaper on Historical FigureEvent in Public Relations .docxshericehewat
Â
Four-page
Paper on Historical Figure/Event in Public Relations History
After watching "A Walk Through the 20th Century: The Image Makers"
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzQyoEphlXY video and reading Chapter 4 "Historical Origins and Evolution" âEffective Public Relations,â 11th edition, Glen M. Broom and Bey-Ling Sha please find an interesting public relations historic person, or event that has had a significant impact on the PR profession and write a detailed, four-page double-spaced paper about that person or event. Be sure to provide examples of the specific impacts this person has had on the PR industry and how they helped to influence the profession such as: started the first international PR agency, paved the way for women in the public relations field, promoted some of the biggest consumer brands in history such as Coca-Cola, etc.Â
Format your paper in AP, APA, or MLA format.  Please include a separate Works Cited (References) page and include 3-5 professional sources.  Citations should also be cited in the body of your paper.  Professional sources for this assignment may include relevant industry trade publications such as PRWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, etc., as well as news publications such as The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, etc., in addition to scholarly journals. Wikipedia may be consulted, but it is not considered a professional source and should not be counted toward your 3-5 professional sources.Â
Please pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation and have your paper proofread before submitting it. Points will be deducted for unprofessional work/typos.
Please address the following in your paper and section your paper with the following section headers:
1) Overview on this historical figure and/or event (who are they, who did they work for, what projects did they work on, what did they do?)
2) Why this person and/or event is interesting to you
3) What significance/impact does this person/event have on the field of public relations? (Why should we care about this person and/or event?)
Excellent Ratings:Met all criteria and exhibited comprehensive & thoughtful analysis.
For full points: Evaluation/Grading:
(Followed instructions, comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of the topic, no spelling, or grammatical errors).
JISTEM - Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management
Vol. 14, No. 1, Jan/Apr., 2017 pp. 21-38
ISSN online: 1807-1775
DOI: 10.4301/S1807-17752017000100002
JISTEM, Brazil Vol. 14, No. 1, Jan/Apr., 2017 pp. 21-38 www.jistem.fea.usp.br
THE LITERATURE REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION MODELS
AND THEORIES FOR THE NOVELTY TECHNOLOGY
PC Lai
Help University, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This paper contributes to the existing literature by comprehensively reviewing the concepts,
applications and development of technology adoption models and theories based on the literature
review with the focus on potential application for the nove ...
Chapter 13 stse the influence of modern society on science and technologyDennise Sisican
Â
Science and Technology, Society and Environment.
The video in the second slide and the last part of the presentation is not available due to the capacity of the slideshare that does not support on the video clip provided in the presentation.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Â
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Â
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Â
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projectsâ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, youâre in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part âEssentials of Automationâ series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Hereâs what youâll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
Weâll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Donât miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
DevOps and Testing slides at DASA ConnectKari Kakkonen
Â
My and Rik Marselis slides at 30.5.2024 DASA Connect conference. We discuss about what is testing, then what is agile testing and finally what is Testing in DevOps. Finally we had lovely workshop with the participants trying to find out different ways to think about quality and testing in different parts of the DevOps infinity loop.
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
Â
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Â
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
JMeter webinar - integration with InfluxDB and GrafanaRTTS
Â
Watch this recorded webinar about real-time monitoring of application performance. See how to integrate Apache JMeter, the open-source leader in performance testing, with InfluxDB, the open-source time-series database, and Grafana, the open-source analytics and visualization application.
In this webinar, we will review the benefits of leveraging InfluxDB and Grafana when executing load tests and demonstrate how these tools are used to visualize performance metrics.
Length: 30 minutes
Session Overviewâ
-------------------------------------------
During this webinar, we will cover the following topics while demonstrating the integrations of JMeter, InfluxDB and Grafana:
- What out-of-the-box solutions are available for real-time monitoring JMeter tests?
- What are the benefits of integrating InfluxDB and Grafana into the load testing stack?
- Which features are provided by Grafana?
- Demonstration of InfluxDB and Grafana using a practice web application
To view the webinar recording, go to:
https://www.rttsweb.com/jmeter-integration-webinar
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Â
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
State of ICS and IoT Cyber Threat Landscape Report 2024 previewPrayukth K V
Â
The IoT and OT threat landscape report has been prepared by the Threat Research Team at Sectrio using data from Sectrio, cyber threat intelligence farming facilities spread across over 85 cities around the world. In addition, Sectrio also runs AI-based advanced threat and payload engagement facilities that serve as sinks to attract and engage sophisticated threat actors, and newer malware including new variants and latent threats that are at an earlier stage of development.
The latest edition of the OT/ICS and IoT security Threat Landscape Report 2024 also covers:
State of global ICS asset and network exposure
Sectoral targets and attacks as well as the cost of ransom
Global APT activity, AI usage, actor and tactic profiles, and implications
Rise in volumes of AI-powered cyberattacks
Major cyber events in 2024
Malware and malicious payload trends
Cyberattack types and targets
Vulnerability exploit attempts on CVEs
Attacks on counties â USA
Expansion of bot farms â how, where, and why
In-depth analysis of the cyber threat landscape across North America, South America, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East
Why are attacks on smart factories rising?
Cyber risk predictions
Axis of attacks â Europe
Systemic attacks in the Middle East
Download the full report from here:
https://sectrio.com/resources/ot-threat-landscape-reports/sectrio-releases-ot-ics-and-iot-security-threat-landscape-report-2024/
When stars align: studies in data quality, knowledge graphs, and machine lear...
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Liu Rongxuan (Article)
1. Alan L. Porter 135
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Alan L. Porterâ
The meaning of technology assessment (TA) is changing in important ways.
TA is an essential tool of the 1990s to enable sustainable development and
facilitate management of technology. Yet, it is a tool in need of serious
repolishing. This paper tracks the evolution of TA; juxtaposes TA with other
forms of impact assessment; briefly considers doing and using TA; and poses
four serious issues for the future of TA.
TA: AN EVOLVING DEFINITION
It should not shock us that two general, widely used, and ambiguous terms-
âtechnologyâ and âassessmentâ-when combined, do not yield a singular
meaning. Nonetheless, we can track and even, perhaps, make sense of the
usage of âtechnology assessmentâ (TA). The initiation of TA in the late
1960s in the USA engendered lively discussion along two distinct streams
(reviewed in Porter et al. 1980). The more direct sought to devise an
effective policy analysis mechanism to help the U.S. Congress better cope
with executive branch proposals. The other, philosophical in bent, concerned
the broad roles of technology in society, seeking to help society better
manage technology. Both streams struck fear in those committed to tech-
nology-based free enterprise, as expressed in charges that TA meant
âtechnology arrestmentâ.
The basic TA model in the scholarly community traces back to the National
Science Foundation (NSF) program led by Joe Coates in the 1970s that
âDr. Alan Porter is director of the Technology Policy and Assessment Center and
professor of industrial and systems engineering and of public policy at Georgia Tech,
Atlanta GA 30332 USA.
lmoact Assessment
2. 136 Technology assessment
supported development of a body of knowledge about doing TA. An
enduring TA definition reflects this perspective (Coates 1976):
Note the italicized terms. Systematic study entails an approach that is as
orderly and comprehensive as possible. The effects on society are the
impacts of the changed technology across all sectors. The unintended,
indirect, or delayed impacts are those not traditionally considered in
economic analyses. Figure 1 illustrates the notion of indirect impacts.
Coates' companion retrospectives on the automobile and the refrigerator also
end i n sixth-order divorce. These semi-serious analyses show both the notion
of 'effects of effects' and the complex nature of technology-society inter-
actions. The latter imply that TA cannot describe the future with certainty;
it can only aspire to reduce future uncertainties.
This model-call it the comprehensive TA model, the NSF model, or the
western TA mock-has evolved into a variety of forms. For one, the scope
o f TAs varies greatly according to user needs and study resources, ranging
From comprehensive, full-scale studies involving interdisciplinary t e a m for
several person-years to quick-and-dirty (say, one person-month) micro
assessments (Rossini et al. 1976).
Erik Baark (1991) distinguishes four schools of TA thought that aid in
tracking TA evolution. These draw from different perspectives on the
technological innovation and diffusion process:
Regulatory. Perceiving technological development as deterministic,
expects the state to set limits on thc use of a particular technology (e.g.,
food additives) or legislate requirements (e.g., safety precautions); TA
is to help the state exert control, in a reactive sense, over actual or
prqjected impacts.
Promotional. Again, the course of technological development is pretty
much given, guided largely by market forces; but TA should help
formulate suitable policies to promote technological innovation in the
interest o f national competitiveness or development.
Volume 13, Summer 1995
3. Alan L. Porter 137
Figure I . The effects of technology
A t times, technologies have unintended consequences that combine t o
have serious impacts undreamed of b y the creators of the technology.
The following example (adapted f r o m Coates 197 1 )demonstrates h o w
television m a y have helped t o break d o w n community life.
CONSEQUENCES OF TELEVISION
1st order: People have a new source of entertainment and enlighten-
ment in their homes
2nd order: People stay home more, rather than going out t o local clubs
and bars where they would meet their fellows
3rd order: Residents of a community do not meet so o f t e n and there-
fore do not k n o w each other so well (also, people become
less dependent on other people for entertainment)
4th order: Strangers t o each other, community members find it diffi-
cult t o unite t o deal w i t h common problems; individuals find
themselves increasingly isolated and alienated f r o m their
neighbors
5 t h order: Isolated f r o m their neighbors, members of a family depend
more on each other for satisfaction of m o s t of their psycho-
logical needs
6 t h order: When spouses are unable t o meet heavy psychological
demands that each makes on the other, frustration occurs;
this may lead t o divorce
Constructive. Does not accept that the course of technological develop-
ment is deterministic; rather, seeks to tune that development in response
to social and political priorities; this suggests proactive state intervention
(e.g., devising incentives to encourage alternative energy sources);
seeking to âconstructivelyâ redirect the process of technical change, uses
TA to clarify interests among technology developers and users.2
Arie Rip and colleagues initiated this social construction of technology perspective
on TA (cf., Smits and Leyton 1991; den H o d 1993).
lmoact Assessment
4. I38 Technology assessment
âŹxperimenta//Participative. This extension of the constructive approach
requires active intervention; a wide spectrum of parties at interest partici-
pate i n testing technological alternatives and/or performing social experi-
tncnts to improve the design o f the innovation.
This framework helps plot the evolution of TA. Studies by the U.S. Office
of Tcchnology Assessment (OTA) represent a largely regulatory stance (cf.,
figure 2 topics), with occasional forays into the promotional (e.g., âtech-
nology opportunities for economic conversionâ). âDevelopment TAâ (Baark
I99 1 ) favors promotional over regulatory issues. Recent European efforts
explore the constructive orientation.
Baarkâs fr;lmework emphasizes public sector TA. Private sector TA is done
by the firm, or industry association, to identify threats and opportunities for
the sake of promoting development. Impacts are typically considered from
a more limited, parochial point of view. TA may also entail public-private
collaboration. For instance, the British Centre for the Exploitation of Science
and Technology (CEST) assesses technological opportunities.
Continuing to stretch the promotional school model, one can fruitfully think
i n terms of a combination of technology foresight activities-rechnology
nwnitot-irlg, foreccrsring, nrtd ussessttwtlt. According to the UN/OTA
workshop report ( 199 1 : 4):
Technology assessment ultimately comprises a .y.stetrt.s
crp~~rocrc~hrlw t t l c ~ t ~ c ~ g e t (ftechnology reaching beyond
to t~~tlt
tecllnology and industrial aspects into society and environ-
mental domains. Initially, it deals with assessment of effects,
consequences, and risks of a technology, hut also is a fore-
casting function looking into the projection of opportunities and
skill devclopnlent as an input t o strategic planning. I n this
respect, it also has a colnponent both ti)r tnonitoring and for
scrutinizitlg infortnation gathering. Ultimately, TA is a policy
and consensus building process as well [italics added].
The 1993 UN expert group meeting further embeds TA with technology
monitoring and forecasting (Porter and Weisbecker 1993; Weisbecker and
Porter 1993). Monitoring consolidates available knowledge on a particular
technology and its context (technological and social). Technology forecasting
anticipates future developments. TA is integrated with nlonitoring and fore-
casting, rounding out a systems approach. âTAâ emphases vary enormously
Volume 13, Summer 7 995
5. Alan L. Porter 139
depending on the needs of the study users. For example, in many developing
countries, such studies may emphasize monitoring (keying on what is avail-
able from developed countries and the impacts experienced there) more than
forecasting or future-oriented impact assessment. In sum, TA has evolved
into a set of foresight analyses adapted to particular users.
I must add that the systems view is stretched unnaturally far to accommodate
all usages of âtechnology assessmentâ. Many, if not most, users of the term
refer to technical evaluations that bear little resemblance to the TA types just
catalogued (see figure 2). Of course, with stretching, the systems view could
encompass these forms. Evaluation of alternative technologies may entail
forecasting, as in the design of a future combat aircraft. Or in the case of an
important TA form, medical (or health) technology assessment seeks to help
decision makers deal with the development, acquisition, and utilization of
health-care technologies (Menon 1993). While somewhat narrowly cast
toward technical equipment evaluation, medical TA can entail predictive
methods and weigh clinical and economic impacts (e.g., as in the assessment
of computed tomographyâs appropriate applications) (Wells et al. 1991).
TA AND EIA:
DEVELOPING ON SEPARATE TRACKS
Both TA and environmental impact assessment (EIA) were legislated into
existence in the United States to improve the social management of tech-
nology. We need not belabor the history of the U.S. National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (cf., Caldwell 1970), nor the development ofâ viable
mechanisms to implement its required environmental impact statements
(EISs). Neither need we reiterate the sequence of studies and deliberations,
led by Congressman Daddario, resulting in creation of OTA in 1972 (cf.
Porter et al. 1980), nor its trying evolution into a well-respected staff arm
of the U . S . C o n g r e ~ s . ~
Vig (1992) considers OTAâs institutional development and the evolution of
parliamentary TA institutions in Europe.
Impact Assessment
6. 140 Technology assessment
Figure 2. 'Technology assessment' according to the databases
I searched four electrontc databases for 'technology assessment' in
December 1993. ACAD (Expanded Academic Index) primarily tracks social
science journals, containing some 1 . 3 million items begmning in 1988. BUS1
(Business Index) emphasizes management and industry sources, containing
some 1.6 million Items beginning in 1988. ENGI (Engineering Index) contains
some 1 . 5 million items commencing in 1985. NTIS (National Technical
Information Service) keys on US government research reports, with 1.7
million items from 1 9 6 4 .
'Technology (adjacent to) assessment' occurred 3 6 9 times in ENGI. In a
small sample of those, almost half referred t o narrowly defined technical
evaluatlon, another thlrd denoted medical TA, and a very small percentage
pertained t o either technology forecasting or impact assessment. Amazingly,
the term appeared 11,500 times in NTIS. Disappointingly, in a small sample,
these overwhelmingly concerned technical evaluation, largely in the military
and nuclear technology arenas. Perhaps 1 5 % evidence impact assessment.
'Technology assessment' appeared 286 times in ACAD. I inspected a small
sample of these abstracts, finding that over 9 0 % referred t o an OTA report
or activity.
'Technology assessment' appeared 4 2 6 times in BUSI, showing the most
diversity in usage. To explore usage further and t o see if there were notable
changes over time, I consolidated the 1 6 4 articles dated 1988- 19 8 9 as one
'early' bunch, and the 81 articles dated 1992- 19 9 3 as a 'recent' bunch
(incomplete 1 9 9 3 coverage contributes t o the reduced number). This yields
the following tabulations of index terms in those articles:
1988-89: 3 9 2 keywords, led by 'Office of Technology Assessment'
( 131); frequent mentions ( 4 or more, most likely reflecting foci of
OTA studies) of hazardous waste, industrial research, environmental
policy, biotechnology, superconductivity, medicaltechnology, digital
audlo tape, magnetlc recorders, hospitals, balance of trade, genetic
engineering, refuse, and manufacturing industry
1992-93: 1 5 1 keywords, led by OTA ( 3 7 ) ; frequent ( 3 or more)
mentions of pharmaceuticals, defence, environmental policy, auto-
mobiles, developing countries, and air quality.
In sum, 'our' meaning of TA differs from 'their' meanings. In some litera-
tures, TA means technical evaluation. Our meaning is primarily represented
in the literature by OTA references.
Volume 13, Summer 1995
7. Alan L. Porter 141
Beginning in the early 1970s, the NSF TA program funded some two dozen
comprehensive TAs and related studies (Rossini et al. 1978). These nurtured
an academic and professional TA community. That community formed a
professional association, the International Society for Technology Assessment
(ISTA), which flourished in the mid-l970s, expiring abruptly due to financial
difficulties. In the late 1970s, Charlie Wolf, Fred Rossini, and I moved to
establish a successor professional association. I phoned Walter Hahn, found-
ing president of ISTA, for his advice-the key element of which was not to
use the term âtechnology assessmentâ. Walter felt that TA failed to draw in
those professionals engaged in EIA, etc. Hence was born the International
Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
IAIA has consistently sought to bring together those practicing TA, EIA,
social impact assessment (SIA), and (less successfully) those doing risk
assessment. These forms of impact assessment (IA) share many essential
features, thus warranting close scholarly and professional interchange among
their practitioners (Porter et al. 1980). Most importantly, all purport to
address thefuture, in terms of the potential effects, o technological changes,
f
for the purpose of informingpolicy making. Distinctions among the forms of
IA often blur.
TA keys on an input consideration-âtechnologyâ. Yet on the one hand, most
IA concerns the potential effects of technological developments, and, on the
other, some âTAâ focuses on problems (e.g., alternative energy choices) or
policies (e.g., implications of telecommunications standard^).^ Risk assess-
ment keys on a particular form of concerns, implying performance of TA to
get at those risks. Risk assessment in practice tends to be narrower in focus
than does TA and more quantitative (e.g., nuclear plant fault tree analyses,
epidemiological cancer profiles).
TA generally contrasts with EIA in not being driven by explicit governmental
EIS requirements, and not being localized to a particular site development.
Also, EIA policy considerations are typically more circumscribed; partici-
patory procedures are more developed and routinized; the impact horizon is
shorter; and data sources are more likely to be primary (direct data
âIntegrated impact assessmentâ addresses a class of technologies, sometimes for a
geographic area (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsored TA of
western U.S. energy, focusing on the policy issues involved).
Impact Assessment
8. 142 Technology assessment
collection as opposed to relying upon literature). Furthermore, those who
perform TA (e.g., OTA staff) are rather distinct from the larger contingent
who perform EIA (c.g., professional consultants). The distance is even
greater between EIA practitioners and those who perform more promotional
forms o f TA, involving monitoring and forecasting, private sector foresight
studies, etc. TA and other forms of IA thus overlap considerably. We might
all have been spared considerable confusion had technology assessment been
named instead âTechnology Impact As~essmentâ!~
Returning to illstitutionalization matters, IAlA has advanced IA by providing
meeting grounds, written media, and networking (Porter 1989). In the 1980s,
IAlA becnlne thoroughly international through a series of successful meetings
outside North America-in Australia, the Caribbean, China, and Europe.
Through meetings and resultant publications (cf., U N 1991 and 1993), the
U N Branch for Science and Technology for Development has significantly
advanced TA. The branch earlier had established the Advance Technology
Alert System (ATAS) and now bears responsibility for TA in the U N
system. They focus on development of TA capabilities in developing
countries. The branch has also spurred a new âassociation of associationsâ to
promote TA-the International Association of Technology Assessment and
Forecasting Institutions.â
DOING TA
Figure 3 gives our 10 steps for TA (Porter et al. 1980). Briefly, the
assessors first bound the study to focus on the main concerns of their
intended users. The next four steps describe the technology and its context,
then anticipate how these are likely to evolve over the time horizon of
interest. Technology description and forecasting emphasize the functional
capabilities of the changing technology and its direct applications. Societal
context description and forecasting seek to ascertain the key influences upon
Volume 13. Summer 1995
9. Alan L. Porter 143
the technologyâs development. Note how readily these steps fit the âsystems
approachâ and the inclusion of monitoring and forecasting with TA. The next
three steps [impact identification, analysis, and evaluation] are the soul of
TA. These progress through asking âwhat might result?â to âhow much is
likely?â to âso what?â. In principle, these steps consider all potential
impacts7 and how they affect all parties at interest. Extending the notion of
all impacts through a cascade of indirect impacts (figure 1) conveys the
challenge of IA. Impact analyses are followed by policy analyses to elucidate
current decision options and their prospective consequences. Lastly,
communication to all interested parties is essential.â
Figure 3. Problem definitionlbounding
Problem DefinitiodBounding
Technology Social Context
Description 4 Description
8 Forecast & Forecast
I I I
Impact-
Identification
Analysis
AL Evaluation
v
Policy
Analysis
Communication of Results
â I like the generic checklist of the acronym, âTHISPEC1ESâ-Technology, Health,
Institutional, Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, Individual, Environmental, and
Security (Porter et al. 1991).
And should begin at the problem &$nition step. The steps should be iterated fully
or partially, as warranted, not treated linearly.
Impact Assessment
10. I44 Technolow assessment
Each of the I O steps receives more or less emphasis depending on the
orientation of the TA (technology development versus impact appraisal), the
interests o f the target aucliencc," data availability, and the study resources
available. To accomplish the steps, assessors draw upon a variety of
qualitative and quantitative methods. A survey of practitioners (Lemons and
Porter 1092) shows considerable overlap in the methods used in TA, SIA,
and EIA in both developed and developing settings. The table in figure 4
tabulates the more prominent TA methods. Expert opinion and monitoring
are most widely used. Note that most TA relies on multiple methods.
Figure 4. TA methods used (YO)
Developed countries Developing countries
Expert opinion 72 87
Nonexpert opinion 25 36
Monitoring 64 70
Trend extrapolation 48 84
Scenarios 41 65
Modeling (qualitative) 34 15
1 I
Modeling (quantita- 18 10
tive)
Checklists 16 26
Matrices I 13 I 17
NOTE: 'Use' IS the mean percentage of studies reported t o use each method,
averaged for three time periods: 1980- 84, 1985- 96, and planned for
1990- 94. For developed countries, 1 4 respondents described 157
studies averaging 3.3 methoddstudy; for developing countries, 5
respondents described 28 studies, averaging 4.2 methods/study.
Volume 13, Summer 1995
11. Alan L. Porter 145
This paper frames TA as a single study of a single technological opportunity.
Instead, one may establish an ongoing TA process. That implies capabilities
to (1) monitor emerging technologies to determine when TA is warranted,
(2) arrange for such TAs to be done, and (3) update information and revise
projections as new information becomes available and concerns arise. In that
TA is often needed âimmediatelyâ, an institutionalized TA process, with
effective memory, can better respond to the occasional windows of opportu-
nity to resolve policy issues.
USING TA
TA should inform decision making. Such information, however, can extend
over a wide spectrum. At one end lies the early warning, intelligence
function, alerting parties to be âat interestâ concerning an emerging tech-
nology. At the other, lies the decision-aiding function. This function can be
served by framing policy options, helping to weigh the merits of such
options, and/or providing ammunition for stakeholders to support their
existing positions. âConstructive TAâ goes further in striving to improve the
options under consideration.
The most intriguing application arena for TA is the developing country-the
thrust of the U N TA initiative. Developing countries, after several years of
hesitation that TA was being foisted upon them as a device to stall their
development, have warmed to the challenge of adapting western TA
approaches to their contexts. This adaptation favors a promotional âsystems
approachâ, inclusive of monitoring and forecasting as well as IA. In particu-
lar, an indigenous TA capability should aid in technology acquisition
decisions. Issues include whether to import a particular advanced technology,
versus a possibly more âappropriateâ technology; whether to buy components
or entire systems; as well as whether to accept the environmental and social
impacts attendant on introduction of the technology and siting of facilities.
Clark (1990) suggests that development TA must deal with three broad
concerns: (1) policies to promote the relevant science and technology base,
(2) those concerned with economic applicability-that is, assessing where
resources should be targeted to optimize development; and (3) those
concerned with the institutional changes needed for effective adoption (e.g.,
regulations, venture capital availability).
imoact Assessment
12. 146 Technology assessment
Discussions at the U N expert group meeting (1993) also affirm that TA in
developing countries is inextricably wedded to development concerns. Figure
5 sketches three TA dimensions. Lrrd stretches from the specific (rech-
nologg, site) t o the global; redl furesigllr stretches from TA (as regulatory
IA) to ;I systems approach (monitoring, forecasting, and assessment). The
third dimension ranges from TA as analysis (the focus throughout this
article) to TA as development activity (institutionalization, promotion, etc.).
Figure 5. Three dimensions of technology assessment
3 DIMENSIONS OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Development
Activities
Global
(Multi-
level)
Specific
TA Tech Foresight (TMF& A)
Volume 13, Summer 1995
13. Alan L. Porter 147
EMERGING ISSUES IN TA
I spotlight four issues deserving serious consideration:
1. Stretching TA to incorporate life cycle analysis prompted by
concerns for sustainable development
2. Devising TA mechanisms for transnational issues
3 . Adapting TA to new thrusts in the management of technology and
technology policy
4. Developing frameworks and support for knowledge generation and
dissemination about the TA process
TA enhances sustainability considerations by directing attention to techno-
logical options (through monitoring and forecasting) and broadening
consideration of potential impacts beyond the natural environment. We need
to inform the sustainable development community about TA and IA so that
these are included in their frame of reference (e.g., âDesign for Environ-
mentâ guidelines being crafted with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
support).
Conversely, sustainability criteria enrich TA. Sustainable development
objectives crystallize concern about the long-term viability of given tech-
nologies. They provide a readily grasped benchmark (Can the environment
support this activity indefinitely?) to help assess proposed technologies. Most
important, sustainability criteria challenge TA to address the full tech-
nological life cycle. Upstream, this means that we need to consider (ideally,
categorize and measure) the resources required for the technological develop-
ment (e.g., raw materials, habitat affected). Downstream, it means we need
to address (ideally, categorize and measure) the residuals. We need to reach
beyond the technology (as product, process, or service) itself to assess
attendant waste disposal or utilization, and re- opportunities (reuse, reclama-
tion, remanufacturing, recycling).
Transnational issues arise as certain impacts (such as global warming)
transcend national boundaries. The severity of such potential effects cries out
for TA, but the difficulties are daunting (Porter 1987). Who holds responsi-
bility to do transnational assessments? Who will provide the resources?
Where are the policymakers to act on the findings? The UN is tackling some
transnational concerns. In particular, the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992
Impact Assessment
14. I48 Technology assessment
focused attention on global change and sustainability issues. The Montreal
Accords 011 liniiting chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone layer offer
encouragement that nations can niobilize rapidly to address a difficult
transnational impact.
TAs or integrated IAs are needed to confront a growing list of transnational
issues attendant to: human biology (population control, AIDS, increased life
spans), information age (network management, global village, changing work
patterns), and the globalization of the economy (while relying upon national
controls).
âManagement of Technologyâ (MOT) is growing explosively in academia.
MOT is prompted by concerns about enhancing competitiveness, seen as
highly dependent on technology. Usuallv based in business schools, MOT
engages engineering in providing the skills needed to manage technologically
based enterprise. The list of such skills includes analysis of technological
innovation processes; technology monitoring, forecasting, and assessment;
and risk assessment. These forcsight analyses are vital to succeed in
âmanaging the present from the futureâ (Porter et al. 1991). That is, we
need to develop sound (not certain) projections of alternative futures and use
these to inform the decisions we are making today. TA needs to be oper-
ationalized as an MOT tool to address specific technologies. But, in addition,
we might do well to revisit the âbig pictureâ philosophical TA discourses of
the 1960s; TA could also help society rethink what its larger objectives are,
with an eye toward the tradeoffs among impacts (Harman 1992).
Technology policy opens up another critical venue for a systems approach
to TA. The legitimation of proactive governmental technology management
suggests a strong role for promotional, constructive, or experimental/
participative TA. How is this to be institutionalized?
Lastly, we need to develop the TA (and IA) knowledge base. The nurturing
role played by NSF i n the 1970s has not been taken up by another institu-
tion.ââ As a result, therc is no research base on how best to perform
TA/IA. How valid and useful are TA/IAs? What makes some better than
othersâ? What methods work best-where, when, and why? Given the vital
Volume 13, Summer 1995
15. Alan 1. Porter 149
national interests i n the policies that TA can inform, there would be tremen-
dous payoff from modest, but well-led, support for such studies.
As a consequence of the lack of a research base, there is no teaching base
for TA. To the best of my knowledge, the last TA textbook was published
in 1980 (Porter et al.). There are no clearcut intellectual homes for this
interdisciplinary activity in the university. Yet someone needs to ascertain
ways to model technology life cycles wilh regard to impact assessment, to
advance creative participatory mechanisms for TA, and so on. Initiatives to
promote the collation and dissemination of knowledge on TA/IA are
desperately needed. There is an outrageous mismatch between the importance
of the activity and the inattention to training people to do it well.
In conclusion, TA needs attention. Through the 1980s, the practice of TA
was visible mainly in the fine work of OTA. Thanks to formation of TA
offices by a number of countries (Vig 1992) and efforts by international
bodies, especially the U N , TA is coming back into scholarly and professional
prominence.Il That is rightful in that TA deals with the really big issues-
the implications of emerging technologies on entire societies and environ-
ments. We need to devote resources to improving the TA process and
effectively integrating it into MOT and sustainable development efforts.
REFERENCES
Baark, E. 1991. âDevelopment Technology Assessment-Some theoretical and
tnethodological issues.ââ Paper presented at the United Nations/Office ot
Technology Assessment Workshop on Technology Assessment for Develop-
ing Countries, Washington DC, November llJN Branch for Science and
Technology for Development].
Caldwell, L.C. 1970. Envirorzment: A Challenge to Modern Societ),. Garden City
NJ: Anchor Books, Douhleday & Co.
Clark, N. 1990. âDevelopment Policy, Technology Assessment and the New
Technologies.â Futures (22): 913-931.
â Unfortunately, the U N Branch for Science and Tecl~nology for Development was
disbanded i n 1994. It is n o t clear which, if any, UN agencies will asstme responsi-
bility for TA.
16. I so Technology assessment
Volume 13, Summer 1995
17. Alan L. Porter 151
Weisbecker, L.W. and A.L. Porter. 1993. âIssues i n Performing Technology
Assessment for Development.â U N Expert Group Meeting on Technology
Assessment, Monitoring and Forecasting, Paris.
Wells, P.N.T., J.A. Garrett, and P.C. Jackson. 1991. âAssesslnent criteria for
diagnostic imaging technologies.â Medical Progress through Teclrnologql
17(2): 93-101.