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"Technological Impact Statements" Needed?

Posted July 05, 2011 8:52 AM

Writing in Test & Measurement World, one engineer muses on how new technologies can have unintended consequences, citing several examples. But his overarching questions are: First, does anyone think about possible unintended consequences when introducing a new technology. Second, even if people do bother to peer into the future and find that some issues do emerge, can they do anything about it? What's your take? Many businesses and government agencies are required to file environmental impact statements before launching new projects. Is it a good idea to establish a process for examining the potential impacts of a new technology?

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Guru

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Earth - I think.
Posts: 947
Good Answers: 58
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Re: "Technological Impact Statements" Needed?

07/05/2011 2:49 PM

"even if people do bother to peer into the future"

There's your problem. What you are talking about is speculation at best, precognition/prophecy at the worst.

So do we have an "Impact Statement" for getting out of bed in the morning? Don't be ridiculous. Impact statements are based on the hard sciences of physical/chemical/electrical interactions in the "here-and-now" world.

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