1. Computers: Tools for an Information Age
Chapter 9
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing:
Doing the Right Thing
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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
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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
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The Digital Divide
Separates the computing haves from the have-nots
Several initiatives exist to narrow the divide
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Workplace Issues
Healthy computing
Employee monitoring
Environmental concerns
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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
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Ergonomics
Refers to human factors related to the use of computers
Ergonomic equipment
Ergonomic behavior
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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
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9. Environmental Concerns
Power consumption
Computer supplies
PC disposal
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10. 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
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11. 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
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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
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13. 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
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