This volume concerns decision making in informatics and is suitable as a basic introduction to the field--the technology, the industry, the applications, and the key issues. It deals with the critical question of how to make choices in this rapidly expanding and pervasive field. The author suggests that to date there have not been any valid methods to assess the future social impact of technological development. Therefore, this volume puts forth a new descriptive and normative model of technological choice and offers a critical analysis of efforts to improve decision making through technological assessment or risk analysis.