1. G53CWO: Computers in the World
Module Coordinator: Ho Sooi Hock
Introduction

2. Module Aims and Objectives
Scope of applications of computers and computing in the world at large
Dependability of computer-based systems, and the nature and extent of their risk management
Legal, ethical, and social issues of computing
Sustainability of appropriate technologies and professionalism
Most importantly, to meet BCS accreditation requirements

3. Module Information http://moodle.nottingham.ac.uk Prerequisites: None
Lecture + Workshop
2 hours/week
Assessment
Essay Coursework (50%)
1.5-hour exam (50%)
Handouts OR
Contributions by all lecturers of School of Computer Science and industry contacts
Reference Books
A Gift of Fire, 4th Edition by Sara Baase
Ethics and Computing by Kevin W. Bowyer
[Downloadable from IEEE Xplore site at ]

4. Additional Information and Requirements
Essay Coursework
critical analysis of ethical issues arising from digital or e-applications
group work (~3 per group)
topics and groups are assigned
report + poster & an event day for poster presentation
Class Attendance
COMPULSORY!
mark contribution to be worked out later

5. 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

6. Ubiquity of Computers Computing everywhere… OR
computers everywhere…most of them invisible
Have you used a computer today?
You have if you used…
your car
an ATM
a credit/debit card
a camera
a cell phone
GPS
PDA
a pager
mp3 players
a modern appliance
an electronic device
etc.

7. Some Positive Impacts of New Technology
Convenience
New types of jobs [Name one besides programmer - the current top 10 jobs did not exist in 2004]
More options for transactions
Improvements in crime-fighting
Small error rate
Great amounts of information in little time (medical, incident responders)
Adapted from PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark (Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall)

8. New Developments Blogs (Word made up from ‘web log’):
Began as outlets for amateurs who want to express ideas or creativity
Appealing because present personal views, are funny and creative, and present a quirky perspective on current events
Now used as alternatives to mainstream news and for business public relations
Can be used to spread inaccurate information

9. New Developments 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

10. New Developments Cell Phones:
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?

11. New Developments 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
Lost of privacy
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.

12. New Developments E-commerce and Free Stuff:
Free stuff on the web: , books, newspapers, games, etc.
started in 1994 and 10 years later annual sales reached $8.5 billion
TV show episodes are available to view on the Web
May infringe on IPR and copyrights

13. New Developments 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

14. Reality of Computing
Computers are involved to some extent in almost every aspect of our lives
they often perform life-critical tasks
Computer Science is not regulated to the extent of medicine, air travel, or engineering
Some users view their computing actions as less serious than their actions in the “real world”
New ethical considerations may be required with new technology capabilities

15. System Quality Bug-free software is difficult to produce
It must be carefully designed, developed, and tested
Mistakes generated by computers can be far reaching
Commenting and documenting software is required for effective maintenance throughout the life of the program
Ethical issues
when is software, system or service ready for release?

16. Privacy Inappropriate sharing vast amount of information in storage
private data describes individual employees – for example, salary, attendance, performance rating, health record.
confidential information describes a company and its operations: sales, promotion plans, research and development.
sharing this information with unauthorised party, even inadvertently, has violated someone’s privacy or created the potential that company information could fall into the hands of competitors.

17. The Internet and the Web
Most people don’t worry about privacy on the Web due to illusion of anonymity
each you send results in at least 3 or 4 copies being stored on different computers.
Web sites often load files on your computer called cookies to record times and pages visited and other personal information
Spyware - software that tracks your online movements, mines the information stored on your computer, or uses your computer for some task you know nothing about.

18. Problems with Large Databases
Spreading information without consent
some large companies use medical records and credit records as a factor in important personnel decisions
Spreading inaccurate information
mistakes in one computer file can easily migrate to others
inaccurate data may linger for years

19. Internet Content & Free Speech Issues
Information on internet includes hate, violence, and information that is harmful for children
how much of this should be regulated?
do filters solve problems or create more?
Is web site information used for course work and research reliable?

20. Computer Crime
Computer criminals -using a computer to commit an illegal act
Who are computer criminals?
employees – disgruntled or dishonest --the largest category
outside users - customers or suppliers
“hackers” and “crackers” - hackers do it “for fun” but crackers have malicious intent
organised crime - forgery, counterfeiting

21. The Changing Nature of Work
Impact of Computers on Work:
Some jobs have been eliminated / Other jobs have been created.
Repetitious or boring jobs are now done with computers.
There is more time for creativity.
Some workers “telecommute.”
Employers can better monitor their workers.
Health issues have been associated with computer usage.
Q: Do they require more or less skill than those they replaced?
Q: Do you mind being monitored?
Adapted from PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark (Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall)

22. Information Ownership Issues
Illegal software copying and duplication (software piracy)
purchase single license but load the software on multiple computers or networks
Infringement of copyrights by copying of pictures or text from web pages
Plagiarism by copying text from other sources when original work is expected

23. Quality of Life Issues Rapid change Maintaining boundaries
reduced response time to competition
Maintaining boundaries
family, work, leisure
Dependency & vulnerability
Employment
re-engineering job loss
Equity & access
increasing gap between haves and have-nots
Health issues

24. Workplace Issues
Inappropriate Use of Computing Resources: some employees use their work computers to surf popular Web sites that have nothing to do with their jobs.
“Half of Fortune 500 companies have dealt with at least one incident related to computer porn in the workplace over the past 12 months, according to a survey released today. Corporations are taking the problem seriously, and fired the offenders in 44% of the cases and disciplined those responsible in 41% of the instances”.
(China Martens, Survey: Computer porn remains issue at U.S. companies, Computer-world, June 21, 2005)

25. Solution Space Models Points to Consider:
Models are simplifications of either physical or intangible systems.
Those who design and develop models must be honest and accurate with results.
Computer professionals and the general public must be able to evaluate the claims of the developers.
Why Models Might Not Be Accurate:
Developers have incomplete knowledge of the system being modeled.
Developers have a solution space prejudice.
Data might be incomplete or inaccurate.
Power of the computer might be inadequate.
Variables are difficult to numerically quantify.
Political and economic motivation to distort results.
Adapted from PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark (Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall)

26. Introduction to Ethics
Quote from Aristotle:
“Man, when perfected, is the best of the animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all”
Taken from PowerPoint slides, Introduction to Computer Ethics, by Dr. Yana Kortsarts, Widener University

27. What is Ethics?
Virtues are habits that guide people to do what is acceptable, and vices are habits that lead to unacceptable behaviour
people’s virtues and vices help define their value system
Ethics is the set of beliefs about right and wrong behaviour
conforms to generally accepted social norms, many of which are almost universal.
standards of moral conduct to gauge personal integrity
basis of trust and cooperation in relation to others

28. Computer Ethics
Computer ethics are morally acceptable use of computers
i.e. using computers appropriately
Standards or guidelines are important in this industry, because technology changes are outstripping the legal system’s ability to keep up

29. Ethical Principles
Ethical principles are tools which are used to think through difficult situations.
Three useful ethical principles:
an act is ethical if all of society benefits from the act.
an act is ethical if people are treated as an end and not as a means to an end.
an act is ethical if it is fair to all parties involved.

30. Computer Ethics for Computer Professionals
Competence – Professionals keep up with the latest knowledge in their field and perform services only in their area of competence.
Responsibility – Professionals are loyal to their clients or employees, and they won’t disclose confidential information.
Integrity – Professionals express their opinions based on facts, and they are impartial in their judgments.

31. Proposed Contents Introduction & Overview [Ho Sooi Hock]
Software Safety [Chew Sze-Ker]
Computer Crime [Michael Chung]
Privacy [Hani Behrang Parhizkar]
Intellectual Property Issues [Tim Brailsford]
Poster Presentation [All Students]
Free Speech & Miscellaneous [KR Selvaraj]
Computers in the Workplace [Guest Lecture by Hilti]
Professionalism & Ethics [Iman Liao]

32. Quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:
Food for Thought
Quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”

33. Acknowlegements
This presentation is adaptation of the original slides from the following sites:
Supplementary materials of the book, A Gift of Fire by Sara Baase:
academic.regis.edu/msanders/Site%20Pages/CS208/Sec8.2-Ethics.ppt