Quarterly report to the Technology Assessment Board, detailing progress and budgets at OTA.

A manual for OTA employees, providing guidance for drafting proposals and reports. Includes standards and procedures for communicating with Congress.

This collection of Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) Resources information briefs details assessments and documents completed by OTA and categorized into a variety of topics, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, defense technology, and energy research and development.

This report analyzes the restraints of energy supply, environmental impacts, highway safety, and consumer cost on the further development of the automobile transportation system. It discusses Government initiatives that may be necessary to assure such further development.

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "analyzes the scientific, regulatory, economic, legal, and ethical considerations involved in alternative technologies in biomedical and behavioral research, toxicity testing, and education" (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of the "activities of the Veterans Administration (VA) regarding device development and procurement," specifically of medical devices (p. iii).

A review by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of "the recent and proposed activities of the Public Health Service (PHS) in response to AIDS" and an evaluation of "the planning, resources and staffing of PHS's efforts to control AIDS" (p. iii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "examines four specific areas of research as case studies: computer architecture, artificial intelligence, fiber optics, and software engineering" in light of their new role in the United States economy (p. iii).

This background paper, OTA sought information and advice from a broad spectrum of knowledgeable individuals and organizations whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged. As with all OTA studies, the content of this background paper is the sole responsibility of the Office of Technology Assessment and does not necessarily represent the views of our advisers and reviewers.

This report discusses the actions necessary to effect a major reduction of United States. carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. is the world’s leading industrial society and largest single emitter of carbon dioxide. Climate change therefore presents a unique challenge to this Nation. It is a threat that will require major prudent political actions even before all the scientific certainties are resolved. The analysis, prevention, and remediation of global warming will require unprecedented international cooperation and action—an effort requiring actions sustained over decades, not just a few years.

The report addresses five major areas: 1) management of information technology, including strategic planning, innovation, procurement, and the information resources management (IRM) concept; 2) information systems security and computer crime; 3) information technology and decision support; 4) management of government information dissemination; and 5) opportunities for using information technology in conducting congressional oversight.

A report on fuel cell technology is one of the most promising of the new electric power technologies currently undergoing development. Fuel cell power systems have attracted attention because of their potential for high efficiency, low emissions, flexible use of fuels, and quietness. The Federal Government and the private sector have been funding fuel cell R&D for more than 20 years. The state-of-the-art has advanced to the point that fuel cell manufacturers hope to begin marketing fuel cells in just a few years. Full-scale demonstration plants are currently being designed.

A report on medicare coverage of physician services for elderly and disabled. The report also discusses the payment methods that have also fueled increases in expenditures for physician services, which are now one of the most rapidly growing parts of the Federal budget.

The U.S. communication infrastructure is changing rapidly as a result of technological advances, deregulation, and an economic climate that is increasingly competitive. This change is affecting the way in which information is created, processed, transmitted, and provided to individuals and institutions. The report analyzes the implications of new communication technologies for business, politics, culture, and individuals, and suggests possible strategies and options for congressional consideration.

This report focuses mainly on the economic side of the R&D process. Pharmaceutical R&D is an investment, and the principal characteristic of an investment is that money is spent today in the hopes of generating even more money in the future.

This paper discusses the experiences of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—technology assessment with six technologies (or sets of technologies) including evaluation and management efforts and how the technologies diffused— are presented and compared.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "describes the available and promising future cogeneration technologies, including their likely costs and operating characteristics, and reviews the potential applications for these technologies in industry, commercial buildings, and rural/agricultural areas" (p. iii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "covers the status of current and projected technologies that affect fertility change" (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that examines "the future of nuclear power in this country, and how the technology and institutions might be changed to reduce the problems now besetting the nuclear option" (p. iii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "contains a summary of the results of the workshop along with copies that were used as starting points for the discussion" (p. iii). The workshop referenced discussed robotics technology and robotics market.

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "examines the automobile as a mode of personal transportation and considers issues an policy options pertaining to vehicles, highways, and related industries, services, and institutions" (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that looks at the current situation of the advances made in air transport technology.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) analyzing "the laws governing Federal land management systems, the laws specifically applicable to Alaskan lands, and the major environmental and land-planning laws that affect access across Federal land management systems" (p. iii).

Transcriptions of statements made over the course of four days regarding the food information systems in the United States.