School of Engineering
and Applied Science Department of Computer Science CSci 1030 -- Technology and Society http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~mfeldman/csci1030/summer14 Prof. Michael B. Feldman, course instructor mfeldman@gwu.edu |
Readings:
Baase, Chapters 1 and 9
Spinello, Chapter 1
the following URL's on moral frameworks and ethics codes:
The PDFs and links are important; the
textbook readings provide useful background information. For
examples of ethics codes in fields other than computers and
software, google "professional ethics code" and try following
one or more of those links.
Learning Activities:
Photo of yourself (by Friday 7/11, 11:59 PM EDT) - using your Blackboard assignment menu, upload a digital photo of yourself for the class photo gallery. Because this is a distance-learning course, we never see each others' faces in class; the photo gallery will help us associate actual people with all the e-mail and forum discussions.
Please
provide a passport-type "head shot" in PNG, GIF, or JPG form.
A selfie is OK; I can shrink your photo if necessary, but
please don't make me edit it to make your face reasonably
visible. Check out the "blank" gallery HERE on the class website; I will fill
in the other photos when you submit them.
Please
use this standard file naming rule: Suppose your name
is Jane Smith: call your file smith-jane-photo.png
or smith-jane-photo.jpg or smith-jane-photo.gif. If you take
a selfie on your phone, you can just email it instead of
uploading to Blackboard, but please meet the other
requirements for the photo.
Electronic
Introductions (by Friday
7/11, 11:59 PM EDT) - use the "introduce yourself"
forum in the Blackboard discussion area, write a brief
description of your background, interests, experience with
computers, discussion of the following: Since many cultures may
be represented in this class, briefly describe how you think
technology is viewed within your culture (good, evil,
frightening, morally corrupting, progress, etc.). In particular,
comment on how the general public in your country feels about
"western" technology. If your culture is American, your thoughts
on American culture and technology are welcome, of course!
Personal
ethical frameworks (by Friday 7/11, 11:59 PM EDT) - again using the
Blackboard discussion forum, locate yourself on the ethical
coordinate system. Given the hypothetical ethical Cartesian
coordinate system (see Ethical Coordinates file mentioned
above), locate (plot) where you think your own ethical
philosophy falls and discuss why.
Discussion of ethics scenario (by Tuesday 7/15, at 11:59 PM
EDT) - in the Blackboard discussion area, discuss the following
ethics scenario to identify the ethical situation, the
stakeholders, the alternatives and the possible correct action
based upon a code of ethics.
(1) Look at the Ethics Code files web
pages and discuss where you think they each fall in the moral
coordinate system.
(2) Consider this scenario:
Civil engineers employed by a state
agency were engaged in numerous construction design projects,
such as flood control, where safety of humans is a factor. They
were held personally responsible for their work under a
professional and business responsibility law. In their design
activities, the engineers increasingly relied on computer
programs that were designed by systems analysts and implemented
by computer programmers. The engineers specified the problems
requiring solution and, to various degrees, specified the
methods of solution and test cases for demonstrating that the
computer programs functioned correctly. Several of the computer
programs included logic where decisions were based on
engineer-specified criteria and where the program output
selected types and quantities of construction materials and
stated how deliverable end products were to be constructed.
The engineers complained to their management that they were not
able to determine the correctness and integrity of the computer
programs, and the results of their work relied heavily on those
qualities. Therefore, an error in a computer program or an error
in operation of the computer (that could be detected by a
programmer) could result in a serious design flaw that could
cause harm to people. The engineers wanted the systems analysts
and computer programmers to share in the responsibilities for
any losses under the professional and business law. The systems
analysts and programmer stated that they were merely providing
tools and had no involvement in their use. The engineers could
test and analyze the programs to assure themselves of their
accuracy. Therefore, the systems analysts and programmers should
not be held responsible.
Given the above scenario, choose one of
these stakeholders:
(3) Finally, do the Individual Ethics Scenario
Evaluation (short paper due Thursday 7/17)