Computing Ethics Class 03

Is technology is neutral?

We started our look at ethics in general and started to think about where ethics and morals come from.


I asked students to set up their blogs and to e-mail me the URLs. For this week's entry I want each student to:

• Find an example of a cyberethics issue that can be effectively dealt with using current laws and morals
• Find an example of a cyberethics issue that cannot be effectively dealt with using current laws and morals and needs some new thinking
• Find an example of a cyberethics issue from popular culture (e.g. Is Lt. Data from Star Trek TNG entitled to the same civil rights as humans?) and identify which into phase of cyberethics evolution it belongs.
• Google "Is technology neutral" and attempt to summarize some of the ideas presented

Students should listen to the following programmes in reading list podcast.

"Would you kill the big guy?" Parts I & II
"Defending the faith, and morality, of non-believers"

SOFT6007 Class 02 & 03 Lab Group B

We looked at HTML Example 1 and Example 2. Students typed Example 2 and saw how it looked in the browser.

We added 2 links.

We added images.

I asked student to make a small website with 2 connecting pages. I allowed students who were done to leave at 1230.


Some important points:
It's all about the structure. To be compliant the html must be perfect. There is no half-right
Tags must be in lowercase
The header must include a title tag
All image tags must include width height and alt attributes

Computing Ethics Class 02

The projector in F1.2 wouldn't work so I had to do a bit of messing.

We talked about what is CyberEthics and whether or not it is a discipline worthy of study in its own right, apart from ethics generally.

SOFT6007 Class 01

history of the Internet. The web.

Introduction to HTML

Computing Ethics Class 01

We discussed the module and I spoke a bit about what the format of the classes would be.

We will spend most classes discussing issues. This is not a module for people who do not like to speak in class nor is if for those who cannot write.

I showed students how to subscribe to the 2 podcasts for the module.

I gave out a random selection of articles from various sources for student to read.

Slides Chapter00

SOFT6008 Class 03

We looked at the Random Image example. This example is tricky because of the escaped quotes.

I asked student to try this for themselves but using their own images and naming convention. Using my naming convention doesn't demonstrate much understand of what's going on.

I asked student to try the time based image exercise. Any well known landmark would be suitable, as images are likely easy to come by.

I messed up the video so the quality of the podcast is very poor.

SOFT6008 Class 02

I asked students to ensure they knew how to subscribe to the module podcast at
http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/computing/cmanning/soft6008.xml

However it took student so long to log into the machines that we got straight down to business once they did. In addition, some machine in that lab have no sound. I logged both problems with the Service Desk.

I talked about what JavaScript is and is not.

We did the Time Based Greeting example.

I asked students to type in this code and see it working. Many students got to see first hand just how fussy JavaScript is, and just how difficult it is to debug.

I messed up the video recording so the quality of the podcast is very poor.

SOFT6008 Class 01

Welcome to Interactive Web Development.

There are more then 20 students in this class so when the numbers finalize we might have to modify the timetable to accommodate a second lab group.

There was no projector in C134x so class was short.

After introducing myself I gave a very quick introduction to JavaScript and answered some questions.

Free Choice Module

Instructions for free choice module registration should be sent tomorrow

Colin Manning, Dept. of Computing
Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland

Visit to Lannion

I was in Lannion earlier his week.

Details later

LRC Meeting

I had my first meeting of the Learning Resources Committee today. It was very interesting. The people involved are very keen.

We looked a bit at the terms of reference of the LRC. They are a bit old now.

We talked about Blackboard.

There's a lot of overlap between the membership of the LRC and the Teaching & Learning Unit.

COMP7004 Computing Ethics class podcasts

I plan to use podcasts extensively for this module. I recommend using iTunes to subscribe to the podcasts, but any other RSS reader should be fine too.

The URL for the class podcast is

http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/computing/cmanning/comp7004/comp7004.xml

This podcast will deliver digital copies of the class where appropriate and copies of slides and (some) handouts. There are two downloads available already so that students can test their set-up is working correctly.

In addition to subscribing to the course podcast listed above, students should subscribe to the this custom podcast of radio programs from various media organisations around the world.

http://huffduffer.com/tags/cit-comp7004/rss

If you need help using iTunes please let me know.

COMP6021 Exam

The final was on 15 December (Wednesday morning)

The solutions and marking scheme are now available online. However if you are still studying for exams do not waste time pouring over solutions to exams you have already take. There will be time for that later.

The results will not be published until some time in January. I won't have anything further to say until then.

Except that it's been a pleasure doing business with you.

Good luck with the rest of your exams.

Games Research Survey

A masters student in Computing, conducting research in the area of ethics in the virtual world, has a brief (5 tickbox) question survey directed at people who play online games, such as Second Life and World of Warcraft, etc. The anonymous survey is a part of an investigation into the relationships formed between gamers and their avatars.

If possible, please complete the survey. It will only take a couple of seconds. Feel free to forward the survey link onto anyone that you feel might be relevant.

Survey Link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BHZ9JDY

If you have any further questions, or input, the student in question, James O'Sullivan, can be contacted at james.c.osullivan@mycit.ie

COMP7004 Textbook

Ethics & Technology by Tavani is the recommended textbook for this course. ISBN:978-0470509500

The Second Edition of this book will also suffice. A copy of the second edition is available in the library.

COMP6021 Re: Exam format?

Hi
There won't generally be much mixing up of topics in any one question. For the most part it's one question = one topic.
Colin M
Colin Manning, Dept. of Computing
Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland
On 14 Dec 2010, at 14:02, *********wrote:
> So any chance you could tell me what format the exam will be in, like 4 questions do 2 etc. and will each question be a mix of topics or topic specific.

COMP7004 Useful sites

Office of the Data Protection Commissioner


Digital Rights Ireland

COMP7004 Recommended Podcasts

Students taking this module are expected to familiarize themselves with current ethical issues facing the computing profession and the wider society. The issue of privacy is often discussed in the media. These podcasts and websites often discuss topics relevant to this modules. Interested students should subscribe to them.

Marketplace Tech Report podcast site sitefeed

NPR Technology podcast site

BBC Technology News site

Podcast of Stories about "Privacy" from NPR

Not as useful for this class, but still very interesting:
On The Media podcast site

COMP7004 Computing Ethics

The CRN for this module is 21108.

Students should check their mail in mid January for instructions from the registrar's office on how to register.

SOFT6001 Last Chance for Assessment 3

Any student who missed Assessemnt 3 should immediately contact Colin by e-mail or SMS. I expect there will be an opportunity to sit the assessment some day this week.