New technologies emerge all the time. Some technologies, however, are transformative: they introduce new forms of control, both through formal systems of regulation and by informally shaping our behavior. They have profound impacts and are often disruptive; they affect the way we work and play; they influence our mobility and lifestyle. They offer hope and possibility while introducing new fears and unintended consequences.
Too often our social reactions to new technologies occur only in hindsight, after the technology has penetrated the marketplace. However, recent experience teaches that much may be gained by practising forethought and foresight. Contributors to this collection examine the development, impact, and governance of new technologies emerging from a variety of fields, including biotechnology, genetics, stem cell research, pharmacology, and nanotechnology. (Publisher)
