Computers in Society:  2008-2009

Overview

Computing takes place in a social context which can affect the ways in which technology develops and in turn may be affected by those developments. In this course, we study these influences, and examine questions that must be answered by computing professionals, policy makers, and members of the public, in relation to the potential uses and abuses of computing technology.

The course is illustrated by a number of case studies, and students are encouraged to draw upon a number of perspectives to address the issues raised by the case studies.

The course is designed to enable participants to:

• Be aware of a variety of views of computing, including: historical; professional; social; political and cultural.
• Identify areas of society where information technology has had a substantial impact and where its effects may be of concern.
• Appreciate how different perspectives can contribute to making choices about the development and use of computing technology.
• Appreciate the legal and social issues associated with the use of computers in organisations and computer crime.
• Critically assess the concepts, theories and issues in recent public debates about technology and society and develop a personal position.

Coursework consists of discussion questions, a group presentation, and a final written exam with essay-style questions. By those means it is expected that participants will also improve their verbal and written communication skills.

Synopsis

Coursework consists of discussion questions, seminars, a group presentation, and a final written exam with essay-style questions. By those means it is expected that participants will also improve their verbal and written communication skills.

Course presentation combines lectures, seminars by external speakers, classes, and a group presentation.

1. Overview. Computers and Society - investigating the relationship. Range of issues and perspectives to be studied. Brief history of computers and computing from one orientation.
2. The Computing Professional. Role of the professional; professional codes of practice. Responsibility of software engineers.
3. Computers and the Workplace. Computers in organisations - different effects of technology on organisational structure and workplace activities. Recent debates about changing nature of work and organisations.
4. Computers and Professional Ethics. Theoretical underpinnings of ethical concepts - a reconsideration of critical concepts in theories of ethics; briefly reviewing philosophical and social approaches to the understanding of ethical issues.
5. Computers and the Law. Protection; legal issues associated with public access to information; issues of control; intellectual property rights; software ownership; copyright patents.
6. Computers and Politics. Workplace monitoring and public surveillance; privacy issues.
7. Computers and Culture. Computers and culture - cultural aspects of computing; how social and cultural values shape system development.
8. Case Study. Seminar with associated group presentation.

Classes

There are 4 classes and a mock trial. Course participants must contribute to both. The classes consist of group discussions of topics. The mock trial simulates a presentation court of a case derived from course material and involves all course participants.

Assessment

The material from the lectures and classes will be assessed by take-home examination consisting of essay questions like those discussed in tutorial classes. The external seminars and mock trial form the "practical" component. A one-page summary of each seminar is to be submitted with the take-home examination.

Reading list

The text is Sara Baase's, A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in Computing, Prentice Hall (first edition, 1997; second edition, 2003). All participants should ensure they have access to a copy.

We shall also be drawing upon articles in Richard Epstein's The Case of the Killer Robot, Wiley (1997).

Many useful resources are available on the web. Examples include:

• http://www.onlineethics.org/cases/robot/robot.html 
• http://archive.museophile.sbu.ac.uk/people/jpb/teaching/ethics.html 
• http://www.ccsr.cme.dmu.ac.uk/ 
• http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/ 
• http://www.bcs.org.uk/ 
• http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/principl.htm 
• http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/index.html 
• http://www.sgr.org.uk/

Taking our courses

This form is not to be used by students studying for a degree in the Department of Computer Science, or for Visiting Students who are registered for Computer Science courses

Other matriculated University of Oxford students who are interested in taking this, or other, courses in the Department of Computer Science, must complete this online form by 17.00 on Friday of 0th week of term in which the course is taught. Late requests, and requests sent by email, will not be considered. All requests must be approved by the relevant Computer Science departmental committee and can only be submitted using this form.