NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Grant No. ESI-9814135 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Additional support for the project was provided by Battelle Memorial Institute. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Technically speaking : why all Americans need to know more about technology / Greg Pearson and A. Thomas Young, editors.

p. cm.

Includes index.

1. Technology—Study and teaching—United States. I. Pearson, Greg. II. Young, A. Thomas. III. National Research Council (U.S.)

T73 .T37 2002

607.1’073—dc21

2001008623