FROM WORLD 3 TO THE SOCIAL ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The monodirectional model of development of technology, from science to markai, reduces the role of society regarding technology to a passive element. The society is in practed by technology. The impacts could be good or not. We can identify and analyse (in advance) these impacts through the Technology Assessment methodology. Thus Technology Assessment is the same that Impacts Technology Assessment. However, we could interpet the development of technology according to multidirectional models (for example, evolutionary multidirectional models). In these models the society could play an active role. Society is not only the impacted target for technological development. Society is also the factor shaping technology. The second interpretation of technological development makes possible to propose and perform a methodology of Technology Assessment where relevant social groups (involved in or affected by the technology at issue) must be identified and their social behaviour has to be analyzed in situations of conflict (between groups) in order to detect the different technological options and their potential different impacts. It is the so-called Social (Strategic or Constructive) Technology Assessment.