ABSTRACT
In 1976, a decade after the introduction of technology assessment, it appeared appropriate to take a new looks at the use of technology assessment (TA) in the government. The House Committee on Science and Astronautics, Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development held Hearings in 1969 for the purpose of considering a proposal by Rep. Emilio Daddario that a Technology Assessment Board be established to provide Congress with "early warning" of the consequences of technology. From 1971 through 1977, National Science Foundation funded 43 technology assessments and 23 additional studies that included TA methodology development, inventories, and analyses of TA and related activities in other parts of the government, symposia and conferences, and "stocktaking" studies. In October, 1972 an Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was established to serve the Congress. OTA has a staff of about one hundred analysts as of 1982, a growing clientele in Congressional committees, and a number of published reports.
