School of Engineering
and Applied Science Department of Computer Science CSci 1030 -- Technology and Society http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~mfeldman/csci1030/summer13 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.
Learning Activities:
Photo of yourself (by Friday 7/12, 11:59 PM) - 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
try to provide a passport-type "head shot" in GIF or JPG form.
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.jpg
or smith-jane-photo.gif.
Electronic
Introductions (by Friday
7/12, 11:59 pm) - 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 7/12, 11:59 PM) - in the Blackboard
discussion area, locate yourself on the ethical coordinate
system. Given the hypothetical ethical Cartesian coordinate
system (see Ethical Coordinates file), locate (plot) where you
think your own ethical philosophy falls and discuss why.
Discussion of ethics scenario (by Tuesday 7/16, at 11:59 pm) -
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 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 7/18)