Emerging technologies : from hindsight to foresight /

While new technologies have the potential to impact quality of life and change the way people work, live, and play, they often outpace the ability of cultural, ethical, and political systems to fully assess their consequences. Einsiedel (communication studies, Univ. of Calgary) has assembled a collection of essays from a variety of contributors that all converge on this theme. The essays are organized into three parts: "Hindsight Learnings," "Foresight Applications," and "Governance Challenges and Emerging Technologies." Papers cover topics such as advances in stem cell research, genetically modified organisms, pharmacogenomics, and nanotechnology--technologies found at the crossroads of science, culture, and ethics. Though the collection of essays has a bias toward policy and public perceptions in Canada, the implications are global, and comparisons are made to supply the reader with an appreciation of the diversity in cultural perspectives. The essays are replete with quantitative data from a variety of sources, and each essay contains extensive references for further study. The authors have included an appropriate level of scientific background on each topic. This ensures the book will have broad appeal to students and professionals in a variety of disciplines, including science ethics, public policy, and technology studies. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduate through professional collections. J. A. Hewlett Finger Lakes Community College