Transcript 102Hasr_Chapter_9

Computers:
Tools for an Information Age
Chapter 9
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing:
Doing the Right Thing
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
2
Objectives
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
Several initiatives exist to narrow the
divide
4
Workplace Issues
Healthy computing
Employee monitoring
Environmental concerns
7
Healthy Computing
A number of health questions have
been raised




Harmful emissions from monitor
Eyestrain from monitor
Back pain from position of chair and desk
Repetitive strain injury
Return
8
Ergonomics
Refers to human factors related to the
use of computers
Ergonomic equipment
Ergonomic behavior
10
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
Return
13
Environmental Concerns
Power consumption
Computer supplies
PC disposal
Return
14
Jurisdictional Issues
International issues

Applying national laws to a world-wide medium is a
difficult process
 It would be impossible to determine if the content of every
Web site was legal according to the laws of every country

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
18
Protecting Children on the
Internet
The Internet offers many opportunities
for children

There are also unsavory elements on the
Internet
Ways to protect children



Blocking software
Child monitoring
Laws to protect children
19
Ethics in Computing
Ethics – standards of moral conduct

Used to help determine the proper course
of action in difficult situations
Computing Issues




Computer ethics
Professional ethics
Programmer responsibility
Ethical use of computers
23
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
31