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Technology and Ethics L. Grewe CS4020
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Overview Rapid Pace of Change Technology evolution and examples
Issues and Themes Ethics - introduced CS4020
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Rapid Pace of Change 1940s: The first computer is built
1956: First hard-disk drive weighed a ton and stored five megabytes 1991: Space shuttle had a one-megahertz computer 2006: Pocket devices hold a terabyte (one trillion bytes) of data 2006: Automobiles can have 100-megahertz computers CS4020
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Rapid Pace of Change 1990s-2000s: WWW
2000s: Social Networking: myspace (2003), facebook, twitter and more Bullying, stalking, child protection issues 2000s: Cell phones and Mobile devices boom to billions. Greater issues of privacy Changes in social interactions 2010s: Autonomous vehicles, vision and AI CS4020
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Rapid Pace of Change: Discussion Question
What devices are now computerized that were not originally? Think back 10, 20, 50 years ago. In addition to automobiles you can prompt the class with the following: TVs Clocks and watches Phones Cash registers Cameras Ovens Etc. CS4020
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Tech evolution / examples
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WWW& communications Communication and the Web
Blogs (“Web log”) began as outlets for amateurs wanting to express ideas, but they have become significant source of news and entertainment. Inexpensive video cameras and video-manipulation tools have resulted in a burst of amateur videos. Many videos on the Web can infringe copyrights owned by entertainment companies.
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WWW &Ecommerce Amazon.com started in 1994 selling books on the Web. It has grown to be one of the most popular, reliable, and user-friendly commercial sites. (taking over from physical stores) eBay.com facilitates online auctions. Traditional brick-and-mortar business have established Web sites. Online sales in the United States now total hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Sellers can sell directly to buyers, resulting in a peer-to-peer economy. Media (movies/video) prevalent on WWW (taking over cable?) CS4020 From
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Video Video Sharing: Rise of amateur videos on the web
Boom of websites like Youtube and Myspace Many videos on the web can infringe copyrights owned by entertainment companies Video technology surveillance, navigation, entertainment, medical CS4020
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Cell phones/ mobile Can now be used for travel, last minute planning, taking pictures and downloading music Talking on cell phones while driving is a problem Cell phones can interfere with solitude, quiet and concentration Cameras in cell phones and privacy issues Some states have passed laws prohibiting use of hand-held devices. Recent studies show hands-free devices, while freeing up the hands, do not reduce distractions, particularly among young adult and teenage drivers who often text message while driving. Cameras in cell phones threaten privacy. Where is the line between capturing news events and evidence of crimes, and voyeurism? CS4020
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Social Networking First online social networking site was in 1995 Myspace, founded in 2003 had roughly 100 million member profiles by 2006 Facebook was started at Harvard as an online version of student directories Sites like Second Life ( combine many of the features of social networking sites with the 3-D aspects of video games. What new problems/benefits arise when a person can take on a physical persona (an avatar) that may be completely different from who they are in real life? Some people with physical disabilities can interact with others without revealing their handicap. CS4020
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Security Big issue today
People were reluctant to provide credit card information to make online purchases, so PayPal.com grew out of need for trusted intermediary to handle payments. Encryption and secure servers made payments safer. The Better Business Bureau established a Web site to help consumers see if others have complained about a business. Auction sites implemented rating systems. CS4020
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Free stuff WWW has lots of free stuff
programs and accounts, browsers, filters, firewalls, encryption software, word processors, spreadsheets, software for viewing documents, software to manipulate photos and video, and much more Phone services using VOIP such as Skype Craigslist classified ad site University lectures
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Advertising rules Advertising pays for many free sites and services, but not all. Wikipedia funded through donations. Businesses provide some services for good public relations and as a marketing tool. Generosity and public service flourish on the Web. Many people share their expertise just because they want to. BUT??? Can it be invasive Some free programs and services do not have all the features of the paid versions. In order for companies to earn ad revenue to fund multimillion-dollar services, many free sites collect information about our online activities and sell it to advertisers.
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Artificial Intelligence
A branch of computer science that makes computers perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence. Researchers realized that narrow, specialized skills were easier for computers than what a five-year-old does: recognize people, carry on a conversation, respond intelligently to the environment. Many AI applications involve pattern recognition. Speech recognition is now a common tool. CS4020
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AI and the Turing Test A Fun Fact –how to tell if really intelligent
Turing Test: If the computer convinces the human subject that the computer is human, the computer is said to “pass”. Philosopher John Searle argues that computers cannot be intelligent. They do not think; they manipulate symbols. They do so at a very high speed, and they can store, access, and manipulate a huge quantity of data, but they are not conscious. They do not understand; they simulate understanding. Searle might say that although Watson won at Jeopardy!, Watson does not know it won.
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Robots Robots Mechanical devices that perform physical tasks traditionally done by humans. Can operate in environments that are hazardous for people. Robots inspect undersea structures and communication cables, search for survivors in buildings collapsed by bombs or earthquakes, explore volcanoes and other planets, and move or process nuclear and other hazardous wastes.
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Human Assistive Technologies
Mobility & Understanding Restoration of abilities, productivity and independence Screen readers and scanners Speech recognition Prosthetics and motion sensors CS4020
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Smart Sensors Smart sensors, motion, and control
Motion sensing devices are used to give robots the ability to walk, trigger airbags in a crash, and protect laptops when dropped. Sensors can detect leaks, acceleration, position, temperature, and moisture. Used in AI, Vision, Robotics, and more Your Cell phone has them Accelerometer or mems (microelectromechanical systems) are tiny motion-sensing and gravity-sensing devices that collect status data. Complex software interprets the data and determines the necessary motions, and then sends signals to motors. Wearware refers to clothing with special sensors.
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Self Driving Cars To replace human driver Multiple sensors
What happens in an accident? Who is liable? Accelerometer or mems (microelectromechanical systems) are tiny motion-sensing and gravity-sensing devices that collect status data. Complex software interprets the data and determines the necessary motions, and then sends signals to motors. Wearware refers to clothing with special sensors.
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How about blindBike CS4020
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What’s Next? Medical records on chips attached to medical bracelets
Biological and computer sciences will combine new ways to insert micro-processors or controlled devices on human bodies Drones and delivery? Augmented Reality CS4020
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Discussion Question Tech1.1) What changes and new developments do you expect in the next 50 years? Tech1.2) How will life be different than it is today? Post your answers on the discussion board. Some ideas to add to the discussion: Wearable computers Enhanced intelligence (via instant communications and/or direct computer interface) CS4020
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Issues Unemployment Alienation and addiction Crime Loss of privacy
Errors CS4020
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Society and Technology
Is technology good? How does it effect us as human beings CS4020
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The physical side of things
Overuse of mobile devices – neck and hand injuries CS4020
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Issue – communication changes
No longer look at each other CS4020
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Issues- the psychological
Addiction CS4020
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Issues - Truth Social media – can you trust it
Winner takes all attitude Trusting your friends more than experts CS4020
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An OMG moment Read this article –do you agree? Then I guess we can all just listen to our friends and become supremely EQ (emotional intelligence) Are things changing? NOTE: I came across this image and couldn’t help sharing –I personally don’t believe this
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Themes Themes: Old problems in a new context: crime, pornography, violent fiction Adapting to new technology: thinking in a new way Varied sources of solutions to problems: natural part of change and life CS4020
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Themes Global reach of net: ease of communication with distant countries Trade-offs and controversy: increasing security means reducing convenience Difference between personal choices, business policies, and law CS4020
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End of Net Neutrality Passed Dec. 2017
Companies Comcast and Verizon may soon be free to block content, slow video-streaming services from rivals, and offer “fast lanes” to preferred partners ban states from passing their own versions of the old rules. CS4020
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End of Net Neutrality shift towards subscriptions that provide unlimited access to certain preferred providers while charging extra for everything else???? End of Entrepenuership Net neutrality is incredibly important for small startups like Discord because all internet traffic needs to be treated as equal for us all to have access to the same resources as the big companies," says Jason Citron, co-founder and CEO of the videogame-centric chat and video-conferencing app Discord. CS4020
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End of Net Neutrality Comcast customers in 28 states face 1 terabyte data caps. Going over that limit costs subscribers as much as an additional $50 a month. Comcast could take a page from Verizon and stop customers from accessing any 4K content unless they pay for an unlimited account. And it could charge companies to sponsor data for their customers. CS4020
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Ethics What is Ethics: Study of what it means to “do the right thing”
Assumes people are rational and make free choices Rules to follow in our interactions and our actions that affect others CS4020
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Ethics (cont.) Ethical Views:
Deontological – right/wrong of action (not consequences) Utilitarianism - moral worth of an action is solely determined by its contribution to overall utility in maximizing happiness or pleasure as summed among all persons (consequences matter) Natural rights – loose = any moral theory that holds that some positive moral claims are literally true. (natural law) No simple answers Do organizations (businesses) have ethics? CS4020
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Ethics (cont.) Important Distinctions: Right, wrong and okay
Negative rights (liberties) The right to act without interference merely obliges others to refrain from interfering with someone's attempt to do something Positive rights (claim-rights) An obligation of some people to provide certain things for others CS4020
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Ethics A variety of ethical views: Golden rules
Treat others as you would want them to treat you. Contributing to society Doing one’s work honestly, responsibly, ethically, creatively, and well is virtuous. Social contracts and a theory of political justice People willingly submit to a common law in order to live in a civil society.
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Ethics Important Distinctions Difference between wrong and harm
Personal preference and ethics Law and Ethics Do organizations have ethics? Ultimately, it is individuals who are making decisions and taking actions. We can hold both the individuals and the organization responsible for their acts. CS4020
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Ethics Discussion Question
Tech1.3) Can you think of examples of liberties (negative rights) and claim-rights (positive rights) that are at opposition to each other? Post your answer on the discussion board This question is the foundation for many issues and controversies discussed in later chapters. One example you can introduce here is the right to freedom of speech versus the need to protect children from materials that are inappropriate for them. Have the class identify who the affected parties are. What are the negative and positive rights for the different parties? Note: the laws pertaining to this issue are discussed in chapter three. CS4020
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