CS 4001A - Computing and Society
Summer 2005

Meeting Times: Tuesday, Thursday; 10:00-11:45
Meeting Place: 53 College of Computing Building

Instructor: Ashok Goel

Office: CRB 394
Phone: 404 894-4994
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10am - 12noon (CRB 394)

Teaching Assistant: Nikhil Devanur

Office:  CCB 202
E-mail: nikhil@cc
Phone: 404-385-2643
Office Hours: TBA

Swiki: http://swiki.cc.gatech.edu:8080/cs4001a-su05
Newsgroup: git.cc.class.cs4001a

Catalog Description

Examines the role and impact of information and communication technology in society, with emphasis on ethical, professional, and public policy issues.

Learning Objectives

Required Texts:

Grading
Class Schedule (GA = Gift of Fire; WA = Writing Arguments)

Readings should be completed by the date of the box in which they are listed.
Assignments have various due dates specified with the individual assignment.

 
Date
 Subject Readings Assignment
Given Out
5/17
 Introduction 
Class requirements
 GF Chapter 1
WA Chapter 1		 Swiki
5/19
 Introduction to ethics
 		GF Chapter 10
5/24
 Code of ethics discussion
 GF Appendices A and B
Ethics declaration
5/26
 Reading arguments
Weizenbaum discussion
Aircraft Scenario
 WA Chapter 2
 Weizenbaum
5/31 Case study: Challenger explosion Tufte, pp 33-58  Article summary
6/2 Software Safety
Therac discussion
 Therac-25
GF Chapter 4		 Therac questions 
6/7 Introduction to writing arguments WA Chapter 3  Argument analysis
6/9 Safety article discussions
Claims
 WA Chapter 4
6/14 Communications
 GF Chapter3    Topic Paper 
6/16 Structure of arguments WA Chapter 5 Software Licensing
6/21 Intellectual property
Licensing discussion
Fallacies
 GF Chapter 6
WA Appendix 1
 Privacy Policy
6/23  Privacy; Privacy policy discussion
Evidence
 GF Chapter 2
WA Chapter 6 		 Cookie Assignment
6/28  Cookie discussion
 GF Chapter 5
  
6/30  Freedom of Speech
Ethos and Pathos
 WA Chapter 7
 
7/5 		 Debate instructions; Debate teams; Debate topics
Accomodating your audience 		WA Chapter 8 Visual Arguments  
7/7		 Visual Arguments WA Chapter 9   
7/12
 Computer crime
Types of claims
 GF Chapter 7
WA Chapter 10		  
 7/14 Categorical and Definitional Arguments
Computers and Work
 WA Chapter 11
GF Chapter 8		  
7/19 Causal Arguments WA Chapter 12  Science Fiction Review
7/21  Resemblance Arguments
Debates
 WA Chapter 13
  
7/26  Broader Issues
Ethical Arguments
Debates
 GF Chapter 9
WA Chapter 14
  
7/28  Proposal Arguments
Debates
 WA Chapter 15
  

Class Policies

Teaching Approach

The primary purpose of this course is to help you develop into a responsible and effective professional who has a basic understanding of and sensitivity to the ethical issues and principles of our field. The best place to start is by cultivating a respectful attitude toward thoughtful dialogue. You will be given many opportunities to express your positions on various situations where computing is having an impact. Equally, you will be expected to read and listen critically to the arguments of others. The goal is not to persuade other people with force of rhetoric; nor is it to win arguments. The goal should be to approach a better understanding of how computing is changing society and what your responsibilities should be as an effective professional. Be open to changing your mind about issues. You will be expected to participate actively in discussions. You are entitled to your opinions, whatever they happen to be. Our job as a class is to ensure that you support your arguments effectively. On any given issue, you may be asked to summarize and critique reading assignments from the text or articles that you have read or summarize group discussions or positions. You will be expected to take any side of an issue and explain it and argue for it sympathetically, even though your personal views may be different.

Resources and References: