Computer Technology Implications

Computer technology—a double-edged sword

Social issuesEnvironmental issues Employment issuesLegal and Security issuesEthical issues

Benefits of Technology • General — enhanced experience, including entertainment, convenience, communications, transport, Education, crime fighting;• Medical — devices, patient records, diagnosis, medicine;• Use of technology by people with disability — I/O devices, prostheses, artificial organs• Science & engineering• Automation• Identification systems• Reduced paper use• others . . . ?

Social Issues PrivacyHealthEquitySocialisationSafety Etiquette Physical ActivityPornographyClassification ratings

Ethical Issues and Legal Issues

Copyright and plagiarism CheatingPrivacyFreedom of speechSecurity of saved and sent informationCloud security

ethical: making decisions about “what is right”

Environmental Issues

PollutionEnergy consumptionDisposal of equipmentWhat is the equipment made from?Paper usage? More factories?

Employment IssuesThe way people work has changed:

• types of occupations are changing• how people do the job is changing• people are working more flexibly• telecommuting

Employment IssuesEmployee monitoring“Technology now allows employers to cross the line from monitoring the work to monitoring the worker”

CindiaCameron

Employment IssuesAre jobs moving to those primarily in support of the computer industry?Do jobs require much more computer literacy than they used to?Income and productivity - How long do people work?• Working hours have decreased . . . • . . . or have they?• Pay has gone down . . . or up . . . ?• Quality of life . . .

THE ATM• Impact on employment• Alienation and customer service• Crime• Privacy• Errors and dependability• Intellectual property• General social issues

Netiquette

The written or unwritten rules of etiquette that govern online interaction between users on the Internet.

10 commandments of computer useThou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.Thou shalt not use a computer to false witness.Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for

which you have not paid.Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without

authorization or proper compensation.Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program

you are writing or the system you are designing.Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure

consideration and respect for your fellow humans.

The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics were first presented in Dr. Ramon C. Barquin's paper, "In Pursuit of a 'Ten Commandments' for Computer Ethics."