TECHNOLOGY-ASSESSMENT - OLD, NEW, AND NEEDS-BASED

Recent health reports, including the 1993 World Development Report, ha ve emphasized the importance of integrating the needs of the populatio n into technology assessment. This paper reviews previous approaches t o technology assessment and identifies the missing link between techno logy and its impact on the physical, emotional, and social needs of th e community, namely needs-based technology assessment. It stresses the key role played by issues of equity and community values in making te chnology decisions. A number of models for needs-based technology asse ssment are described.