See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081218094626.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081218094626.ht... for a long summary that's no c

See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081218094626.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081218094626.ht... for a long summary that's no charge. 1. The technology must address the cause-effect relationship connecting problem to solution. For example, vaccines work with great reliability because they address almost all of the important variables necessary for preventing the disease. 2. The effects of the technological fix must be unambiguous using uncontroversial criteria: benefits must be obvious to all. 3. R&D is more likely to solve a social problem when it improves an existing technical core. It's less effective when exploring theoretical foundations, causes or dynamics of a problem.