The document discusses several social and ethical issues related to computing. It describes the digital divide between those with and without access to computers and the internet. It also outlines some workplace issues like employee monitoring and ergonomics. The document examines legal issues around different jurisdictions and laws to protect children online. Finally, it discusses the importance of ethics in computing and intellectual property rights.

1. Social and Ethical Issues in Computing: Doing the Right Thing CIS 105 Revised March 2006

2. Objectives Identify the social issues and ethics in computing Understand the digital divide social issue and its effect in society List and describe the workplace issues Describe the international and national legal issues List different methods that are already available for protecting children on the Internet Explain the significance of the ethics in computing Explain the significance of intellectual property rights

3. The Digital Divide Separates the computing haves from the have-nots Those with access to computers and the Internet take advantage of personal and economic opportunities Those without access fall farther behind Major divisions among nations and within countries between urban areas and rural ones between rich and poor Several initiatives exist to narrow the divide Within the U.S. Universal Service Fund helps service providers to provide telecommunications services to rural areas E-Rate program provides rate subsidies for Internet access for schools and libraries Worldwide Africa ONE is creating a fiber optic network to connect the nations of Africa What are some other options?

4. Workplace Issues Healthy computing Ergonomics : human factors related to the use of computers Employee monitoring Tools Policies Environmental concerns Power consumption Computer supplies PC disposal

5. Ergonomic Equipment Chair should be pneumatically adjustable Keyboard platform should be set to proper height Monitor must be adjustable Lighting should be adjusted to minimize glare on the screen

6. Ergonomic Behavior Ergonomic equipment must be used properly Turn the screen away from the window to reduce glare Cover your screen with a glare protector Place keyboard to avoid arm and wrist fatigue Use a raised rest for your wrist Position your seat back so back is supported Sit with your feet firmly on the floor Enlarge fonts so they are easier to see Take frequent breaks

7. Employee Monitoring Various tools allow an employer to monitor an employee’s performance Keystroke monitors measure keystrokes per second Other software tools monitor how long an employee is away from the computer Monitor the files stored on the hard drive Monitor the sites visited on the Internet Many companies have policies that notify employees about monitoring practices

8. Information Privacy Unauthorized collection & use of information Employee Monitoring Helpful Links Federal Trade Commission How Identify Theft Works Annual Credit Report

9. Jurisdictional Issues International issues Applying national laws to a world-wide medium is a difficult process. Why? Issues exist over which country’s court has jurisdiction National issues Issues exist over which locality’s court has jurisdiction Imposition of sales taxes on Internet transactions

10. Protecting Children on the Internet The Internet offers many opportunities for children, as well as dangers Ways to protect children Blocking software Child monitoring Place the child’s computer in a public area instead of his or her bedroom Restrict usage when parents are not present Laws to protect children

11. Blocking Software Used to prevent children from accessing sites on its updatable list of objectionable sites Blocks pornographic sites and sites with foul language Blocks sites requesting names, phone numbers, and credit card numbers Sometimes criticized for being overzealous

12. Laws to Protect Children Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Requires Web sites that target children under 13 to post a privacy policy and obtain parental consent before collecting data Children’s Internet Protection Act Requires libraries receiving federal funding to implement blocking technology Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act Requires libraries receiving the E-Rate discount to establish an Internet safety policy

13. Ethics in Computing Ethics – standards of moral conduct Used to help determine the proper course of action in difficult situations Computing Issues Computer ethics (9-270) Professional ethics Programmer responsibility Ethical use of computers

14. Professional Ethics Relates to ethics of those whose work focuses on computer systems (9-271) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct developed by the Association for Computing Machinery Divided into sections General principles Professional responsibilities Guidelines for organizational systems

15. Programmer Responsibility Bug-free software does not exist Testing can only show the presence of bugs, not their absence Issues related to software quality How much testing is enough? How many minor bugs are acceptable in software about to be released?

16. Ethical Use of Computers Data quality Users are responsible for the quality of data entered into the system Procedures must be in place to detect and correct inaccurate information Protecting customers’ personal data Doing business over the Internet Develop privacy policies stating how data will be used (opt-in vs opt-out) Digitally altering data

17. Altering Reality Computers can alter photographs How much alteration is ethical? E-mail messages can be destroyed In a legal action, is this altering evidence?

18. Intellectual Property Rights Refers to results of intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary, or artistic fields U.S. Copyright Act provides protection in three areas Copyrights Patents Trademarks

19. Copyrights Provides the creator of a literary or artistic work with control over its use and distribution Widespread distribution of music and video over the Internet has created quite a controversy Defining fair use has been difficult Under fair use, you may use copyrighted works for limited purposes Digital issues More Info? Go to: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d07/cis105/copyrightposter.htm ©

20. Digital Fair Use Issues Copy-protection schemes make it impossible to copy CDs and DVDs Users claim that violates their fair use rights Software Users may not modify copyrighted software Digital images Images on the Web may be downloaded and used as screen savers, but they may not be distributed or altered Plagiarism Work taken from the Internet must be cited if it is used in a paper or other presentation

21. Patents Designed to protect inventions and encourage inventors Grant patent holder exclusive rights to the invention Patent Office will grant patent protection to software algorithms and techniques Will also grant patents for business methods implemented in software

22. Trademarks A word, name, symbol, or device used to distinguish one company and its products from another Two issues in the digital arena Unauthorized use of one company’s trademarks on another’s Web site Cybersquatting – obtaining a domain name that includes another company’s trademark, then selling that domain name at a profit ™

23. If asked, can you…. Identify the social issues and ethics in computing Understand the digital divide social issue and its effect in society List and describe the workplace issues Describe the international and national legal issues List different methods that are already available for protecting children on the Internet Explain the significance of the ethics in computing Explain the significance of intellectual property rights

24. Sources Capron; Computers: Tools for An Information Age, 8 th Ed. 2003 Pfaffenberger; Computers in Your Future 2003 Microsoft Clipart How Stuff Works: Identify Theft FTC