| Abstract: | The history of technology is the history of the birth, weaning and (mostly) death of ideas. Action based on consensus requires a thorough understanding of all significant opposing points of view. Standardization deliberations employ formal consensus processes and (in the United States) are the most common forums to do so. But in a larger sense, consensus processes are central to scientific and technological progress. The role of consensus processes, and of standardization deliberations, in progress at the state-of-the-art is discussed. |
