Emerging Technologies: From Hindsight to Foresight

New technologies emerge all the time. Some technologies, however,are transformative: they introduce new forms of control, both throughformal systems of regulation and by informally shaping our behaviour.They have profound impacts and are often disruptive; they affect theway we work and play; they influence our mobility and lifestyle. Theyoffer hope and possibility while introducing new fears and unintendedconsequences. How should we think about these radical technologies? Too often oursocial reactions to new technologies occur only in hindsight, after atechnology has penetrated the marketplace. However, recent experienceteaches that much may be gained by practising forethought andforesight. Emerging Technologies addresses the ethical, legal, andsocial dimensions of emerging technologies and assesses their socialand policy implications. Contributors examine the development, impact,and governance of new technologies emerging from a variety of fields,including biotechnology, genetics, stem cell research, pharmacology,and nanotechnology.