Technology Assessment Tool Research Articles

Technical Feasibility and Relative Productivity of Alternate NASA Robotic Missions to a Lunar Dark Crater

Two concepts for large-scale, complex, robotic missions to search for frozen water at the lunar south pole are systematically analyzed to determine their relative productivity and investment requirements. A concurrent design team, a technology-assessment tool, and a sensitivity model are integrated to search a large, complex trade space. Performance goals for a broad portfolio of missions comprising NASA's lunar exploration program are optimized subject to budget, workforce, and other nontechnical constraints. Explicit distinction is made between enabling and enhancing technologies. Uncertainties and dependencies are included within the optimization framework. Given the constraints used in this analysis, the study determines that the longer mission [using a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)] would return 14 times the value of the shorter mission (using a methanol-oxygen fuel cell) for roughly a 17% increase in cost, and would be enabled with the recommended temporal technology portfolio. To assess the robustness of the investment recommendations, other potential fuel-cell chemistries are evaluated along with potential improvements in rover speed and autonomy, and a reduced activity profile. Results indicate that a lithium-oxygen fuel cell would enable the highest level of productivity among the three fuel cells studied, though not as high as that permitted by an RTG. For the shorter duration mission concepts, it was found that productivity could be enhanced by reducing the number of activities from the baseline 15 to 4, thereby permitting time for each activity to be more fully accomplished.

Development of the public information and communication technology assessment tool

Purpose. Public information and communication technologies, such as information kiosks, automated banking machines and ticket dispensers, allow people to access services in a convenient and timely manner. However, the development of these technologies has occurred largely without consideration of access by people with disabilities. Inaccessible technical features make operation of a public technology difficult and barriers in the environment create navigational challenges, limiting the opportunity of people with disabilities to use these devices and access the services they provide. This paper describes the development of a tool that individuals, disability advocacy groups, business owners, healthcare providers, and urban planners can use to evaluate the accessibility of public technologies and the surrounding environment. Evaluation results can then be used to develop recommendations and advocate for technical and environmental changes to improve access.Methods. Tool development consisted of a review of the literature and key Canadian Standards Association documents, task analysis, and consultation with accessibility experts. Studies of content validity, tool usability, inter-rater and test-retest reliability were conducted in sites across Canada.Results. Accessibility experts verified the content validity of the tool. The current version of the tool has incorporated the findings of a usability study. Initial testing indicated excellent agreement for inter-rater and test-retest reliability scores.Conclusions. Social exclusion can arise when public technologies are not accessible. This newly developed instrument provides detailed information that can be used to advocate for more accessible and inclusive public information and communication technologies.

Social sustainability and social acceptance in technology assessment: A case study of energy technologies

This paper discusses an approach for assessing indicators for the social sustainability of technical systems developed within a Swedish technology assessment tool called ORWARE. Social sustainability is approached from the perspective of one of its ingredients, namely social acceptance. The research takes the form of a case study on energy technologies conducted in the municipality of Kil in west central Sweden. Three indicators—knowledge, perception, and fear associated with four chains of energy technologies—are assessed using a questionnaire. The questionnaire results indicate that respondents have such a low level of information and knowledge about new energy technologies that they are unable to discriminately rank them. This was found to hamper participation in discussions and decision making about technologies for which public funds would be spent. The importance of assessing social indicators by engaging members of society is discussed, and an assessment approach is developed. The need to present results together with ecological and economic indicators is emphasised in order to avoid suboptimization.

Computer Literacy and Web-based Survey Distribution Techniques at the University Level: Using the Student Technology Assessment Tool (STAT) Survey

Computer Literacy and Web-based Survey Distribution Techniques at the University Level: Using the Student Technology Assessment Tool (STAT) Survey

The DIMOND project and its impact on radiation protection

The DIMOND III project comprised work packages and subprojects to research digital imaging, interventional radiology and interventional cardiology, i.e. areas where there has been rapid technological change, not matched by radiation protection research. Whilst new practices have great potential benefit, there are risks to patients and staff if the technology is implemented inappropriately. DIMOND aimed to develop generic technology assessment and optimisation tools. Clinical quality criteria and technical parameters were included so that digital imaging procedures can be introduced appropriately. Frequency and dimensions of acceptance and constancy testing for digital imaging systems were studied, along with differences between objective measures of image quality and subjective indices. Patient dosimetry was performed to propose and to establish reference values. Clinical evaluation projects included cardiology, interventional radiology and digital mammography. As a result of the DIMOND project, quality criteria for several procedures were developed. Example results are presented in this paper.

ICT literacy

PurposeTo inform readers about the new information and communication technology assessment tool developed by the Education Testing Service and a consortium of two and four‐year academic institutions in the USA.Design/methodology/approachA concise assessment of the tool.FindingsThe tool is scenario, performance, and problem‐based so that students must demonstrate their knowledge. It is also interactive and recognises that students should be able to integrate various skills to solve real‐life problems.Originality/valueWill assist higher education institutions and workforce/career centers about the unique scenario‐based, web‐based assessment tool which integrates the proficiencies of information literacy with the use of digital and computer technologies, along with the principles of the ethical and legal use of information.

4 Technology Assessment Tool (A Systems Engineering Approach to Assessing U.S. Department of Energy Technology Proposals)

AbstractThis paper discusses the system design of a Technology Assessment (TA) tool that can be used to quantitatively evaluate new and advanced technologies, products, or processes. Key features of the tool include organization of information in an indentured hierarchy; questions and categories derived from the decomposition of technology performance; segregation of life‐cycle issues into six assessment categories; and scoring, relative impact, and sensitivity analysis capability.An advantage of the tool's use is its ability to provide decision analysis data, based on incomplete or complete data.

Estimating diagnostic accuracy from multiple conflicting reports: a new meta-analytic method.

Reports of diagnostic accuracy often differ. The authors present a method to summarize disparate reports that uses a logistic transformation and linear regression to produce a summary receiver operating characteristic curve. The curve is useful for summarizing a body of diagnostic accuracy literature, comparing technologies, detecting outliers, and finding the optimum operating point of the test. Examples from clinical chemistry and diagnostic radiology are provided. By extending the logic of meta-analysis to diagnostic testing, the method provides a new tool for technology assessment.

Elevated plasma histamine concentration as a sensitive real-time parameter for distinct phases of surgical trauma: A tool for technology assessment

High technology plays an important role in surgery, either to expand surgical procedures or to reduce tissue trauma, which is a main goal of minimum invasive surgery. Due to the tremendous increase of costs the problem of technology assessment will not only be solved by statistical methods, but also by biomedical considerations and laboratory tests. Histamine release could be an indication for tissue trauma, which is caused directly by tissue damage or indirectly by infection or hypoxia. Therefore histamine release was investigated during different phases of operation in two clinically very important and complex situations: resection of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma and resection of the oesophagus because of an oesophageal carcinoma. To model this situation in animal experiments, two randomized controlled studies were conducted in sheep. Traditional techniques were compared with techniques of minimum invasive surgery. Plasma histamine levels were determined at well-defined phases of the operation. Histamine release was demonstrated at distinct phases of operation indicating considerable specificity of this parameter, if sensitivity is guaranteed by advanced tests. Incision of the liver capsule by thermocauterization, liver ischaemia, tissue trauma in more extended disruption of perioesophageal tissue were causes of more extended histamine release. It is concluded that measurement of plasma histamine is a suitable indicator for discriminating between extended and minimum invasive surgery. The consequence of considering this parameter may be less complications in the post-operative period and a short hospital stay with better quality of life.

Exergy study of the reverse cycles of absorption heat pumps by use of energy-utilization diagrams.

Energy utilization diagrams (EUDs) are applied to the design of reverse-type absorption chillers. They represent the distribution of both the exergy loss and the driving force in each part of the system. It is shown that the performance of the reverse cycle is quite high. in particular, installation of an auxiliary heat exchanger is expected to raise the efficiency much higher. The procedure for improving the process system by examining the displayed EUDs shows that EUDs are quite effective in designing process systems. Since only information of enthalpy and entropy is required, EUDs can be drawn in an early stage of system design and may become a powerful tool for technology assessment.

Advances in petrochemical technology assessment

Research demonstrated the potential usefulness of a model of the petrochemical industry for long-range planning. These fundamental concepts were converted into a working tool for technology assessment. The model industry is aggregated according to process technology and these aggregate processes are linked together by the potential flow of chemicals from primary feedstocks through to final petrochemical products. Estimates are made of the materials consumption and production, energy requirements and capital investment for each of the processes in the model. Given projections of primary feedstock supplies, the demands for final products and the costs of chemicals and energy, the most economically efficient model industry is determined as a basis for long-range planning. This paper summarizes the use to which these simple concepts have been put in industrial technology assessment. 26 tables.

Interpretive structural modeling—A useful tool for technology assessment?

Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is a computer based technique for helping small groups develop graphical representations of complex systems. In this paper, the rationale for the use of Interpretative Structural Modeling in activities such as technology assessment is developed and the basic concepts underlying the technique are explored. Several applications of ISM are described and from these experiences some observations are made about the nature and effectiveness of the ISM process and product. ISM was found to provide its users with a systematic and comprehensive method for integrating group judgments in the development of “first-cut‘ structural models. At the same time, however, the technique was found to be relatively inflexible and may, in some instances, inhibit group processes. Possible directions for the development of less rigid methods are suggested.