Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies

摘要: Our everyday world is constantly changing. Economic growth, globalisation and the continuous development of technology ensure that in all aspects our lives — foodstuffs, energy, clothing, transport, health, employment, leisure, etc established practices equipment rapidly become obsolete there are relentless pressures to innovate ‘modernise’. In majority cases, these processes driven by capitalist market, as producers seek shape consumer demand entrepreneurs champion new products services. Part in-built dynamic modern capitalism it a profit-driven ‘growth machine’ characterised perpetual technological innovation (Saunders, 1995). Such consists attempts minimise or avoid technical problems with current machines systems, and/or increase cost efficiency, achieve radical breakthroughs introduce completely devices methods. The shifts from coal steam power, availability electricity, evolution motor vehicles then air adoption nuclear advance computers digital telecommunications, biotechnology industries only few illustrations fundamental transformations which have occurred relatively short historical period.