The aims and methods of technology assessment

Technology Assessment (T.A.) is viewed as a dynamic process. The paper emphasizes the basic aims of T.A. as an assessment and synthesis process. Specific areas of system analysis and the tracking of technology are presented with respect to T.A. priorities, stage of development, and the collateral use of the basic techniques of quantitative analysis in the context of community health. An information system, in conjunction with the role of new approaches to T.A. such as Meta-Analysis are discussed. Several examples from the literature are presented by way of illustration.