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Disruptive Technology Office
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<p>The Disruptive Technology Office (DTO) was a funding agency within the <a href="/facts/United_States_Intelligence_Community/JLLIfECW">United States Intelligence Community</a>. It was previously known as the Advanced Research and Development Activity (ARDA). In December 2007, DTO was folded into the newly created <a href="/facts/IARPA/oLbo3Kj4">IARPA</a>. </p><p>ARDA was created in 1998 after the model of <a href="/facts/DARPA/Uf9sarhT">DARPA</a> by the <a href="/facts/Director_of_Central_Intelligence/bWgpp3zY">Director of Central Intelligence</a> and the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Defense/dWAvf7e3">Department of Defense</a>, and took responsibility for funding some of DARPA's projects. ARDA evaluates proposals and funds speculative research, particularly in the fields of <a href="/facts/Data_mining/AH53q5ac">data mining</a>, <a href="/facts/Video_processing/n08sasRV">video processing</a>, and <a href="/facts/Quantum_computing/nbbcgmvq">quantum computing</a>. </p><p>There has been speculation that the DTO is continuing research efforts started under the <a href="/facts/Total_Information_Awareness/D6KfRJ74">Total Information Awareness</a> program (TIA) in <a href="/facts/DARPA/Uf9sarhT">DARPA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Information_Awareness_Office/fEwhAngf">Information Awareness Office</a> (IAO). Data-mining activities within the US Department of Defense are controversial and have met with public and congressional disapproval. </p><p>Although ARDA's budget is presumably classified as part of the intelligence budget, the <i>New York Times</i> quoted an unnamed former government official saying the agency spent about $100 million a year in 2003. The Associated Press reports that ARDA had a staff of only eight in 2004. </p><p>Headquartered at <a href="/facts/Fort_George_G._Meade/c7BkDSaR">Fort George G. Meade</a> in <a href="/facts/Maryland/tVy9fC1n">Maryland</a>, site of the headquarters of the <a href="/facts/National_Security_Agency/Sg6MGV1o">National Security Agency</a>, ARDA/DTO has kept a low profile, quietly funding research of interest to the intelligence community. A move to a research park near the University of Maryland, College Park was announced at about the same time as the consolidation into IARPA. </p>