CS 3043 Social Implications Of Computing

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Class 1Introduction

Keith A. Pray

Instructorsocialimps.keithpray.net

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Overview

1. Introduction1. Course Staff2. Text3. Logistics4. Purpose

2. Class Discussions1. Critical Thinking2. Discussion

3. Assignment

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Course Staff

Instructor Keith A. Pray

kap@wpi.edu FL ? IM

AIM, Yahoo - keithpray Google Chat - keithpray@gmail.com

TA Avani Shastri

avanishastri@wpi.edu

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Text

A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet, 3rd edition Sara Baase Publisher: Prentice Hall

Who’s read Chapter 1?

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Practice Quiz!

1. What is Ethics?

2. Explain at least 2 Ethical theories.

3. What is the difference between liberties (negative rights) and claim rights (positive rights)?

4. What information processing technology issue interests you most so far?

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Logistics

Course Web Site http://socialimps.keithpray.net/

Grading http://socialimps.keithpray.net/assignments/grading/

Due Dates http://socialimps.keithpray.net/assignments/due-dates/

Remember to put your name on slides, papers, etc. If we don’t know who you are we can’t give credit

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Purpose

Learn about how computing affects society, and vice versa.

Practice critical thinking skills. Practice written and oral presentations.

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Overview

1. Introduction1. Course Staff2. Text3. Logistics4. Purpose

2. Class Discussions1. Critical Thinking2. Discussion

3. Assignment

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What are the facts? What are people’s

Viewpoints Biases Goals / Agendas

How do things relate? Logical arguments “Because I Say So!” or Proof by Intimidation

Some Critical Thinking AspectsSome Critical Thinking Aspects

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More Critical Thinking

Be conscious of word choices. Beware of conflating.

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Class Discussion

What is technology? In your lifetime, what information processing

technologies have been: Introduced Enhanced Become more prevalent.

Pick one and discuss: What did people fear would happen? What actually did happen?

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Overview

1. Introduction1. Course Staff2. Text3. Logistics4. Purpose

2. Class Discussions1. Critical Thinking2. Discussion

3. Assignment

CS 3043 Social Implications Of Computing

Assignment

Create an information processing technology timeline

You can choose any scope (time periods, domains, etc.) and format you like

Example timeline - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/timeline/timeline_text.html

Write a 1 page paper that draws some conclusion using your timeline to illustrate your point.

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Class 1 The End

Keith A. Pray

Instructorsocialimps.keithpray.net

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Class Discussion II

Pick a story (real or fictional) which you have heard, read, or seen. What technologies were important in that story? How did they affect society?

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Social Implications of Technology

Whole-Class Discussion Consider the Industrial Revolution

Roughly the 19th Century What technologies were introduced? What consequences did people fear? What actually happened?