Social implications of technology: The past and the future

On June 6, 1981 the Executive Committee of (he IEEE gave final approval to formation of the JGEE Society on Social Impliquions of Technology (SS1T), This action, in response to a membership petition circulated by CSIT in 1980 was the culmination of effort extending over many years. In fact, a similar membership petition nine years earlier led to formation of CSJT. This is not to imply that the past nine years have been spent unproductively and this occasion provides an opportunity to mention at least very briefly a few of the many worthwhile activities of the Committee.