society. It is inspired by ethics, policy discourse analysis and the sociology of expectations in science and technology. This mode of TA aims to clarify and bring under public and political scrutiny the normative assumptions and visions that drive the actors who are socially shaping science and technology. This assessment can be used as a tool to analyse and evaluate the background of each and every reaction or perception that takes place for each technology; often some of the reactions these assessors receive are not related to science or technology. Some of the ways of analyzing actors and their reaction is by "studying prospective users' everyday-life practices in their own right, and in naturalistic settings." Accordingly, argumentative TA not only addresses the side effects of technological change, but deals with both broader impacts of science and technology and the fundamental normative question of why developing a certain technology is legitimate and desirable. Technology assessment institutions around the world Many TA institutions are members of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment (EPTA) network, some are working for the STOA panel of the European Parliament and formed the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG). Centre for Technology Assessment (TA-SWISS), Bern, Switzerland. Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany (former) Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) The Danish Board of Technology Foundation, Copenhagen Norwegian Board of Technology, Oslo Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), London Rathenau Institute, The Hague Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) panel of the European Parliament, Brussels Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU), Sussex Department of Science, Technology and Policy Studies, University of Twente Technology centre CAS (TC CAS), Prague, Czech Republic Oficina de Ciencia y Tecnología del Congreso (OficinaC), Spain See also Collingridge dilemma History of science and technology Horizon scanning Scientific lacuna Technology Technology dynamics Technology forecasting Technology readiness level Technology transfer References External links Scientific Technology Options Assessment (STOA), European Parliament European Technology Assessment Group for STOA Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany Office of Technology Assessment at the German Parliament (TAB) TA-SWISS Centre for Technology Assessment Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria The Danish Board of Technology Rathenau Institute The Norwegian Board of Technology Impact assessment Design for X Technology transfer Technology systems