September 2026 release (ELSST Version 7)

Work in this development phase of ELSST has focused on updating the SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY hierarchy and related terms. Changes include the addition of terms to cover new technologies, and the deprecation of terms representing outdated technologies.

All language versions have been updated except for Romanian and Icelandic where no new translations have been added to this release. Translation of Preferred Terms for all target languages is between 96 -100% complete.

The following changes were made to the English source language version:

30 new concepts
12 deprecated concepts
6 relabelled Preferred Terms
58 new Entry Terms
10 deleted Entry Terms
34 new or changed Definitions
2 new or changed Scope Notes
51 changes to the Broader/Narrower Concepts
16 changes to Related Concepts
54 new or changed History Notes

Examples

New concepts include the following: FACIAL RECOGNITION, ROBOTICS, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, DRONES, CITIZEN SCIENCE, and ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS
Deprecated concepts include the following: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (replaced by SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION); FAX TRANSMISSION, TELEX and TELEGRAPHY (all replaced by DATA TRANSMISSION), and INSTANT MESSAGING (replaced by ELECTRONIC MESSAGING)
Relabelled Preferred Terms include SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION instead of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
New Entry Terms include DEEPFAKE as Entry term of DISINFORMATION; FITNESS TRACKERS as Entry term of WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY; DRIVERLESS VEHICLES as Entry term of AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES; and WEBINARS as Entry term of TELECONFERENCING
Deleted Entry Terms: include STREAMING as Entry term of ABILITY GROUPING – now relabelled as STREAMING (EDUCATION)
New or changed Definitions include the addition of a Definition to the term DISINFORMATION (FALSE INFORMATION SPREAD DELIBERATELY IN ORDER TO DECEIVE PEOPLE), and the change of the Definition of TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE (from REFERS TO TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC to ASSETS, SYSTEMS OR NETWORKS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PROVIDING VITAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS: TRANSPORT, ENERGY, COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, ETC.)
Broader/Narrower Concept changes include the change of the Broader Concept of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE from COMPUTER SCIENCE to DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and the Broader Concept of BIOTECHNOLOGY from TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION to SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION