CS 459: Social Implications of Computing

Professor: Clinton Jeffery
Office: SH 125 Office Hours: M 2-2:30, 3:30-4, and by appointment
Phone: 505-646-3480 E-mail: jeffery@cs.nmsu.edu
Class Meets: M 2:30-3:20PM, SH 115
Web: http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~jeffery/courses/459/
Texts: Extensive online documentation will be used.

Course Description

"Privacy, security of information, work and leisure, professionalism and licensing, legal safeguards, political and economic implications." - from the NMSU catalog.

This course introduces the major issues we as a society and as individuals, must face as a result of our increasing dependence on computing and related technologies. Broadly, the first part of the course will examine large scale social issues, while the latter part of the course will deal more with the impact of computers on individuals, and our responsibilities as computer professionals.

Grading

The course uses S/NS grading. Attendance is required and will be taken each class. More than one unexcused absense from class is not satisfactory. The course is a seminar in which leading and participation in discussions is required. In addition, there will be short writing exercises and two formal papers, for which the term satisfactory will mean: an exemplary display of technical English.

The first paper will be about some topic of current or special interest to computers and society. The second will normally be written in the same area in which the student leads a discussion. Each paper will be graded on both content and readability. Content is taken to be the ideas involved, including referencing other appropriate work. Readability is taken to include organization, sentence structure, and grammar.

Syllabus & Class Web Updates

Check the course web page given above for updates before each class period.

Academic Conduct

The guidelines for academic conduct are stated in the NMSU Student Handbook. Any violations of the code as stated in the handbook will result in a grade of F for the course in addition to any further sanctions imposed by the university. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the NMSU Student Handbook.







Course Outline

Topics to include (but not be limited to:)
  1. Why Computers are a Tremendous Gift.
  2. Risks.
  3. The Erosion of Privacy
  4. Copyrights, software patents
  5. Constitutional Freedoms in Cyberspace
  6. Computer Crime
  7. Impact of computers on Work and Home
  8. Ethics in the Computing Profession

Assignment #1

Read "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us", by Bill Joy. A link is on our class web page. Write a (< 1 page) evaluation of that article: are the threats real? Why or why not? What can be done to safeguard the future? Be prepared to discuss. Due in class 1/28/2002.