Computers: Tools for an Information Age Chapter 9 Social and Ethical Issues in Computing: Doing the Right Thing Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Objectives Identify the social issues and ethics in computing Understand the digital divide social issue and its effect in society List and describe the workplace issues Describe the international and national legal issues Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Objectives List different methods that are already available for protecting children on the Internet Explain the significance of the ethics in computing Explain the significance of intellectual property rights Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall The Digital Divide Separates the computing haves from the have-nots Several initiatives exist to narrow the divide Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Workplace Issues Healthy computing Employee monitoring Environmental concerns Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Healthy Computing A number of health questions have been raised Harmful emissions from monitor Eyestrain from monitor Back pain from position of chair and desk Repetitive strain injury Return Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Ergonomics Refers to human factors related to the use of computers Ergonomic equipment Ergonomic behavior Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Employee Monitoring Various tools allow an employer to monitor an employee’s performance Keystroke monitors measure keystrokes per second Other software tools monitor how long an employee is away from the computer Monitor the files stored on the hard drive Monitor the sites visited on the Internet Many companies have policies that notify employees about monitoring practices Return Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Environmental Concerns Power consumption Computer supplies PC disposal Return Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Jurisdictional Issues International issues Applying national laws to a world-wide medium is a difficult process It would be impossible to determine if the content of every Web site was legal according to the laws of every country Issues exist over which country’s court has jurisdiction National issues Issues exist over which locality’s court has jurisdiction Imposition of sales taxes on Internet transactions Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Protecting Children on the Internet The Internet offers many opportunities for children There are also unsavory elements on the Internet Ways to protect children Blocking software Child monitoring Laws to protect children Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall Ethics in Computing Ethics – standards of moral conduct Used to help determine the proper course of action in difficult situations Computing Issues Computer ethics Professional ethics Programmer responsibility Ethical use of computers Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall

Intellectual Property Rights Refers to results of intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary, or artistic fields U.S. Copyright Act provides protection in three areas Copyrights Patents Trademarks Copyright © 2003 by Prentice Hall