This report aims to provide an insight about reasons why educational markets are under-producing educational software, and what thoughtful, practical remedies can be employed to bring the production of educational software up to the socially desirable level.

This report discusses the use of technology in education of students K-12 and university.

This report descriptively reviews findings from recent sample surveys of farmer attitudes about agricultural chemicals and groundwater quality; their practices and motivations related to chemical management; and their responses to public policy alternatives addressing this issue.

A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "presents an analysis of the contact lens industry in the United States, emphasizing the role of economics and public policy in shaping past and future development" (p. 3).

This report includes these topics: Ecological issues relevant to environmental applications of genetically altered organisms / Elliott A. Norse -- An ecosystems approach to potential perturbations of energy flow and nutrient cycles associated with environmental applications of genetically altered organisms / David C. Coleman and Robert E. Hodson -- Ecological impact of genetically engineered organisms on ecosystems / James R. Gosz, C.N. Dahm, and Patrick W. Flanagan -- The genetic basis of changes in host range or habitat / Adrianne Massey and Fred Gould.

This report examines the role wireless technologies will play in the emerging National Information Infrastructure (NII) and identifies the challenges that policymakers, regulators, and wireless service providers will face as they begin to more closely integrate wireless systems with existing wireline networks. The report also discusses some of the technical and social implications of the widespread use of wireless technologies— paying particular attention to the profound changes that wireless systems may cause in patterns of mobility.

The staff paper is part of a larger, ongoing OTA assessment of the ozone nonattainment issue, requested by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

A case study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that provides "scientific background for congressional of Medicare reimbursement for alcoholism treatment services" (p. 3).

This report investigates neuroscience, it explores the social and intellectual context surrounding advances in neurosciences.

This report discusses the necessity of quality health care information, the access to health information and the intentions of providing such information.

This Background Paper examines whether the agencies responsible for administering Federal environmental and health and safety laws have taken this concern for respiratory health to heart. This paper provides a partial response to the committees’ request for an assessment of noncancer health risks in the environment and follows OTA’s previous work on carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxic substances.

A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that analyzes "two instances of the use of formal analysis in the formulation of Federal Government policy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD)" (p. 3).

This report discusses the power of new tools for teaching and learning

This report identifies key technologies and shows how they are being used to communicate clinical information, simplify administration of health care delivery, assess the quality of health care, inform the decision-making of providers and administrators, and support delivery of health care at a distance.

The analysis in this report identifies priority environmental targets across the country for water quality, wildlife, and soil quality. A tripartite set of programs designed to lower cost and achieve more enduring solutions illustrates possible approaches to the targets.

This report provides a look at the history of educational technology, including both successful and unsuccessful government and private enterprise projects during the past three decades. The report examines trends in technological factors and new technologies that will influence development of innovative educational hardware and software during the next five years.

This report discusses the commodity programs that have been developed over the years with the objective to raise farm outcomes.

This report discusses the history of distance learning technology, the number of new and complex technological devices that could be applied to distance learning.

This special report supports a larger OTA project that analyzes the effects of technological change and international trade on the structure of the domestic economy and options for public policy. The textile and apparel industries were selected for special attention because they provide key insights into the problems of changing manufacturing enterprises.

This report discuses distance learning projects, and ways telecommunications technologies such as satellites, cable television, fiber optics, slow scan TV, instructional television fixed services, and microcomputer networking have opened up opportunities for school districts to coordinate schedules and to share resources.

In this report, OTA places testing in its historical and policy context, examines the reasons for testing and the ways it is done, and identifies particular ways Federal policy affects the picture, The report also explores new approaches to testing that derive from modem technology and cognitive research.

The purpose of this background paper is to describe the current state of development of HIV vaccines, and to discuss what is known about adverse reactions that may occur. The background paper provides an overview of ethical issues that arise in the conduct of HIV vaccine trials. The report also discusses alternatives to the current product liability system to encourage the development of HIV vaccines and to fairly compensate those who are harmed as a result of adverse reactions to the vaccine.

This report includes these topics: Potential environmental impact of widespread releases of non-ice nucleating bacteria in agriculture / D.A. Andow, S.S. Snapp, and P.S. Teng -- An assessment of the impact of large-scale applications of ice-minus bacteria and other procedures designed to decrease population sizes of ice-nucleative-active bacteria on crops / Christen D. Upper, Susan S. Hirano, Gabor Vali.

This report includes statements by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the board, TAAC Chairman, and the director of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). The report discusses the year in review regarding the work in progress, organization and operations of OTA.