CS 415 Social Implications of Computing

Coordinator: Leo Finkelstein, Jr.

Course Review

Course Content

Topic: Digital Revolution: paradigmatic shift from the analog to the digital paradigm

Focus: On changes primarily from the 1970s to now.

Scope: Wide, dynamic range of topic areas tailored to each quarter.

Topics in CS 415

• Digital revolution and personal ethics• Intellectual property protection (patent,

copyright, trade secret, licenses)• Intellectual property and piracy (theft of

software, images, documents, music, etc.)• Computer crime and law enforcement

(biometrics, data mining, profiling)• Invasion of privacy (direct marketing,

medical, employment, credit databases)

Topics in CS 415

• Health hazards (radiation & ergonomic)

• E-Commerce (online finance, trading, banking, credit, B2B, B2C)

• Proposal and report writing review

• Style and grammar review

• Presentations/briefings review

Class Schedule

• Approach– Lectures with interactive discussions on a

variety of current topics– Student presentations on their proposed

topic with class discussion– Student formal presentations on their

research

Class Schedule

• Eight lessons: Lectures with interactive discussions

• Two lessons: Student proposal presentations

• Two lessons: Review of proposal and report writing, and formal presentations

• Eight lessons: Student research presentations

Assignments & Grading

• 30%: Proposal document for their research topic, including their proposal presentation– Includes: Introduction, approach, result, statement

of work, resources including budget and labor hours, and documentation

• 50%: Research Report document– 10 page paper not counting abstract,

documentation, and appendices

• 20%: Research Report presentation– 10-15 minute formal (Powerpoint) presentation

Desired Outcomes

Be sensitive to ethical dimensions of computing technology and related contemporary issues

Be able to understand professional and ethical responsibilities related to computing technology

Be able to understand global, social impacts of computing technology

Be able to communicate effectively. Specifically, be able to do the critical thinking necessary to:

• propose, develop, and produce a significant research project on a social implications topic

• develop, produce, and deliver a formal presentation on this research

• May include developing research methods and statistical controls, as well as properly interpreting current research.

Assessment

No valid empirical way to assess this courseAssessment done by performance on course

projects--i.e., quality of the student’s proposal, presentation, research report):

• Demonstrated critical thinking• Demonstrated understanding of concepts• Demonstrated quality of writing• Validity of research methods used

Resources

Textbook resources• Leo Finkelstein, Jr., Pocket Book of Technical Writing for

Engineers and Scientists, 3rd Ed., Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008. REQUIRED

• Leo Finkelstein, Jr., Pocket Book of English Grammar for Engineers and Scientists, 1st Ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2006. RECOMMENDED, ESPECIALLY FOR ESL STUDENTS

Web resources– www.finkelnet.com– www.cs.wright.edu/~lfinkel/courses