1. The document discusses several social impacts of computers including the development of a cashless society where payments are made electronically, the effect of computers on employment through both new jobs created as well as the potential for declining jobs for computer professionals as systems become easier to use, and issues of computer ethics around privacy, piracy, and computer crimes. 2. It notes that while computers have created new jobs like systems analysts and programmers, the number of computer professionals may decline in the future as computers and software become more user-friendly. 3. The document also addresses computer ethics issues such as privacy of personal information, illegal copying of software (piracy), computer crimes like hacking, and the threat of computer viruses spreading

1. 1
SOCIAL IMPACT OF COMPUTERS
Cashless Society
Computers & Employment
Easier-to-use computer systems
Presentation of Information
Issues of Computer Ethics

2. 2
Cashless Society
 where NO one pays with CASH
 all you need is a CARD
 one large database contains all accounts
 it is no totally cashless now, except
– credit cards
– autopay systems
– automatic teller machines
– payment express terminals

3. 3
Advantages & Disadvantages
 reduces the risk
of being robbed
 saves time
(queuing)
 it is easy to spend
more than you
can afford
 fraud

4. 4
Computers & Employment
 New jobs are created, for example:
– data processing manager
– systems analyst
– applications programmer
– systems programmer
– database administrator
– computer operator
– data entry operator

5. 5
 However, it is expected that the no. of
computer professionals will decline in
future years
– computers are made easier to use
 unemployment will probably increase
– more computers are used
Computers & Employment

6. 6
Easier-to-use
Computer Systems
 hardware & software are being designed to
meet the needs of a wider range of users
 computer user-interface
– becomes more ‘user-friendly’
– special skills & training are not required
 Advantages
– cheaper computing
– saving time in training staff
– greater computer literacy

7. 7
Presentation of Information
in the past
–a design professional is needed
now
–a presentation graphic software is
enough

8. 8
Issues of Computer Ethics
 ethics
– about what is right & what is wrong
 many computer users adopt a code of
ethics, for example
– do not violate the confidentially of your
employer
– maintain system integrity at all times
– do not violate the rights or privacy of others
– do not break the law

9. 9
 Privacy
– our personal information is store in many
places, e.g., government departments
– it may be misused
 Confidentiality
 Easy transfer
 Accuracy
Issues of Computer Ethics

10. 10
 Piracy
– the copyright law is broken when
• people copying copyrighted software
• and then even selling it
– except for the purpose of back up, any
reproduction of software is prohibited
– Have you ever seen any pirated software
for sale in Hong Kong?
Issues of Computer Ethics

11. 11
 Computer crime
– is increasing every year
– for example
• a programmer change a program to transfer the
money left in old accounts to his account
• an employee at the public examinations office
change his daughter’s results
– its potential impact is huge
– more thorough laws & better system
security
Issues of Computer Ethics

12. 12
 Computer viruses
– a subversive computer program that
• can corrupt or erase data files
• replicates itself & spread to other systems
– can be imported to computer system
through
• disks
• data transmission over networks
– have many types (act quickly, slowly or like
a time bomb)
Issues of Computer Ethics

13. 13
 Computer crimes
– cost of retrieving lost programs & data is
huge
– to minimize the danger
• avoid using disks that contain software from a
doubtful source
• scan the floppy disk with an anti-virus or
‘doctor’ program
• to prevent infection through networks, only
allow authorized users access, e.g., using
passwords
Issues of Computer Ethics