| Month |
Date |
Day |
Topic/Assignment |
| September |
3 |
Thursday |
Welcome. Overview of course
Tantalizing Topics |
| |
8 |
Tuesday |
Tantalizing Topics
Read :
- Johnson, Chap. 1. Introduction to Sociotechnical Computer Ethics
No paper due.
Resources:
Ethics Updates on:
|
| |
10 |
Thursday |
Ethical Theories: Overview
Read:
- Johnson, Chapter 2 Ethics and Information Technology
|
| |
15 |
Tuesday |
Ethical Theories (continued); Professional Ethics
|
| |
17 |
Thursday |
On-line Ethics
Read:
- Johnson, Chapter 3 Ethics in IT-Configured Societies.
|
| |
22 |
Tuesday |
On-line Ethics
Computer Ethics in the News
- Jim Puzzanghera ,"Internet 'net neutrality' endorsed by FCC chief," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 21, 2009. Text of speech.
- Wendy Kaiminer, "The Justice Act," The Atlandtic, September 18, 2009. On FBI computer-based surveillance.
- Charles Duhigg, "Stock Traders Find Speed Pays, in Milliseconds." NYT, July 24, 2009.
- Kristina Griifantini, "Can You Trust Crowd Wisdom?" Technology Review, September 16, 2009.
- Mike Harvey, "New Trojan virus poses online banking threat." Times of London. Sept. 21, 2009.
- Douglas MacMillan, "Google Books' Latest Foe: The Justice Dept." BusinessWeek, Sept. 20, 2009.
- Electronic Freedom Foundation
|
| |
24 |
Thursday |
Privacy
Read:
- Johnson, Chapter 4 Information Flow, Privacy, and Surveillance
|
| |
29 |
Tuesday |
Privacy & Surveillance
Read:
- Class project on surveillance
Listen:
[LMH in Tokyo] |
|
| October |
1 |
Thursday |
Wikipedia, MySpace, YouTube, Google Scholar
Read:
[LMH in Tokyo] |
| |
6 |
Tuesday |
Special class meeting: Meet to view the movie "Surrogates" at 11:50 AM in AMC Fashion Valley 18. We will meet at the theater at 11:40 AM.
Search Engine Ethics
Read:
|
| |
8 |
Thursday |
Catching up; review |
| |
13 |
Tuesday |
First Exam
Take home exam. Answer both questions, 3-4 pages apiece, typed, double-spaced:
- Socio-technical systems
Describe what Johnson means by "socio-technical systems" and the three major mistakes her position warns us about when thinking about technology. Using Johnson’s definition of socio-technical systems, provide at least three examples of technology in the news that could illustrate the idea of a socio-technical system and discuss avoiding these mistakes is important to the analysis of the issue.
Privacy
As a class activity, we observed and discussed the degree to which our daily actions can be traced backed to us and who has access to these records/details. We have also discussed various articles and topics in the news involving privacy issues including the digitizing of medical records and the risks involved. What are three arguments that can be made for why we shouldn’t worry about privacy? How can each of the three be countered? Frame your discussion within the context of the tension between consequentialist and deontological ethical theories.
|
|
| |
15 |
Thursday |
Intellectual Property
[Fall holiday: Friday, Oct. 20] |
| |
20 |
Tuesday |
Privacy: BBC Video
Computer Ethics in the News: (on eReserve)
- "Track Me Not"
- Filtering Reality
- Prop 8 maps
- France Approves Wide Crackdown on Net Piracy
- The International Privacy Ranking
- Big Brother Is Listening
- Robots that Care
|
| |
22 |
Thursday |
Intellectual Property; Property Rights
Read:
- Johnson, Chapter 5 Digital Intellectual Property; Johnson, Chapter 6 Digital Order
|
| |
27 |
Tuesday |
Digital Order
Read:
- Johnson, Chapter 6 Digital Order
|
| |
29 |
Thursday |
Social Implications and Values
Nov. 10: Deadline to withdraw] |
| November |
3 |
Tuesday |
Social Implications, Values and the Future
Read:
|
| |
5 |
Thursday |
Accountability & Professional Ethics
Read:
Video: Lawrence Lessig @ Google
Malcolm Gladwell, "Something Borrowed" New Yorker, Nov. 22, 2004. |
| |
10 |
Tuesday |
Topics:
- Continuation of Lessig video
- Discussion of paper topics
- Return of Exam #1
Read:
60 Minutes: "Sabotaging the System." November 8, 2009.
"Google Releases Dashboard Privacy Tool." CNN. Nov. 6, 2009
"Patty Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense." TED. March 2009.--new link on sixth sense
Ben Macintyre, "The Internet is killing storytelling." Times of London, November 5, 2009.
Notes on Exam #1 |
| |
12 |
Thursday |
Topic: Professional Ethics
Read:
Computer Ethics Resources |
| |
17 |
Tuesday |
Second Exam (in class)
Material for Exam #2:
- Johnson, Chaps. 4, 5, 7 (at least 60% of questions from this source)
- Lessig video
- BBC video on surveillance
- Glick lectures on algorithms and the internet
- Hinman classroom presentations
Format:
- Short answer
- 20 questions
- Estimated time: 60 minutes
- Available time: 85 minutes
|
| |
19 |
Thursday |
No class--prepare for student presentations
|
| |
24 |
Tuesday |
Return of Exam #2; tips for paper writing; scheduling of student presentations.
Computer Ethics in the news:
|
| |
26 |
Thursday |
Thanksgiving Vacation |
| December |
1 |
Tuesday |
Student Presentations |
| |
3 |
Thursday |
Student Presentations |
| |
8 |
Tuesday |
Student Presentations |
| |
10 |
Thursday |
Student Presentations
Concluding comments; evaluations
Term paper due in duplicate at beginning of class! |
| |
22 |
Tuesday |
Return of final papers; course discussion |
Johnson - Chapter list
1. Introduction: Why Computer Ethics?
2. Philosophical Ethics.
3. Professional Ethics.
4. Ethics and the Internet I: Ethics Online.
5. Privacy.
6. Property Rights in Computer Software.
7. Accountability and Computer and Information Technology.
8. Ethics and the Internet II: Social Implications and Social Values |