CS 1023 Cultural Implications of the Information Society

• Instructor: Neal R. Wagner

Office: 3.02.16 SB, Telephone: (210)458-5550.
Office hours: MWF 9-9:50am, MW 12:00-12:50pm, MW 2:00-2:50pm.
E-mail: wagner@cs.utsa.edu
• Textbook: Computer Ethics: Cautionary Tales and Ethical Dilemmas in Computing

Second Edition, by Tom Forester and Perry Morrison, MIT Press, 1994. (In addition to the textbook, the class will make extensive use of the World Wide Web.)
• Description (From the UTSA Catalog):

CS 1023 Cultural Implications of the Information Society
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course offers an examination of the modern information society and the influences of technological advances on society and culture. The emphasis is on information and its management--from ethical, social, and legal perspectives. Students will make extensive use of the World Wide Web.
• Prerequisites and Credit:

There are no prerequisites, and no specific previous knowledge of computers is assumed. However, students will be expected to use computers and to access the World Wide Web. This course counts for the ``Diversity of Thought'' slot in the Core Curriculum. Note: This course is not designed for computer science majors, and credit in the course will not count toward a Computer Science degree.
• Outline
• Objectives
• Lectures and Topics
• Special Web Pages on Various Topics
• Background in Ethics
  A discussion of several approaches to ethical theories, with emphasis on practical matters.
• Avoiding Risks
  Recommendations for avoiding risks in dealing with computers. (These are rather distrustful of technology.)
• Anti-technologists
  A discussion of anti-technologists, both good and bad.
• Identification
  Identification and identity verification schemes explained.
• Agents
  The advent of modern autonomous, intelligent, mobile agents
• Anonymity
  Anonymous services available on the net, along with future possibilities.
• Special Web Pages on Additional Topics
• Fingerprinting
  Adding identifying fingerprints to objects. Includes crime-proof hardware.
• Education
  Use of computers in education.
• Knowledge bases and prolog
  Illustration of knowledge bases with the facts and rules of prolog.
• Bad Uses of Computers
  Topics include warfare, pornography, gambling, and counter-measures.
• Planning
  The difficulty of planning and relevance of computer technology.
• Is Privacy Important?
  The need for privacy and its situation in the U.S.
• U.S. Cryptographic Policy
  The strange history of cryptography in the U.S. over the past 20 years.
• Computerizing the Workplace
  See Chapter 8 of your text Computer Ethics
• Assignments, Quizzes, Exams
• Description of the Term Project
• Possible Topics for the Term Project

Links of Interest

• Privacy Links

You should all finish long before the 4:15 pm deadline.