User:Vtaylor/Computers and Society/8. Risks, Failures and Responsibilities


 * In this topic, we will look at some of the uses of computers where they have very direct personal implications for our health and safety. Who is responsible for the use and abuse that can result from these relationships and interactions?

Computers themselves are not capable of original thought but they can act as through they "think". Computers have capabilities to "remember" vast amounts of information and apply the information according to millions of rules that have been defined by hundreds of programmers over decades. How does this all come together? What happens when there are conflicts within the rules or data and something goes wrong?

Learning outcomes
 * recognize the benefits and dangers associated with computers
 * select web sites that provide additional insight into the issues
 * examine issues raised in discussions
 * write thoughtful responses to questions asked

Keywords


 * failures, errors, reliability, safety, dependency, ethics, professionalism, responsibilities, violations, consequences, conflict of interest

Study notes


 * We are becoming more dependent on technology. What safeguards should there be to ensure that we are safe from this technology?


 * Who should be responsible in the case of technology doing damage or causing injury?


 * What computer errors are just annoying? What are some examples of serious computer errors?


 * What is the difference between a "design flaw" and a "bug"? Is one more serious than the other?


 * What legal remedies should be available in cases of computer hardware and software problems?


 * Are we too dependent on computers?


 * How reliable and accurate are computer models? Are there computer models that are "better" than real life testing?


 * Which people or organizations have helped make systems safer or reduced the negative consequences of errors?

== ==


 * Morals and the machine - ethical problems surrounding the use of increasingly autonomous robots in everyday life


 * Podcast: Can 'friendly' AI save humans from irrelevance or extinction? - an interview between Dan Farber, editor-in-chief of CNET News.com and Eliezer Yudkowsky, co-founder of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Yudkowsky talks about the future of artificial intelligence and the contradiction between human and artificial intelligence development.


 * Nicholas Negroponte Keynote - Internet and Society 2007 - Speech about OLPC - One Laptop Per Child, from Nicholas Negroponte.


 * Discoveries - NSF's public investment in science, engineering, education and technology helps to create knowledge and sustain prosperity. Read here about the Internet, microbursts, Web browsers, extrasolar planets, and more..


 * Open-source medical devices - When code can kill or cure. Medical technology: Applying the “open source” model to the design of medical devices promises to increase safety and spur innovation

== Assignments==


 * 1) Before you start the reading and the assignments, take a few minutes to think about what you already know about the topic - Risks, Failures and Responsibilities. Write a sentence or two about this in the I know... discussion.


 * 1) Read the Study notes for an overview for the topics that will be covered.


 * 1) Read, view, listen to the selections in the Selected media list.


 * 1) Choose 3 words from the Keywords list. Find a web article or other online media that provides information about each of the words and how they relates to the course. These should relate to technology. Be sure to include specific information about how technology is involved in your post. Post the words, links to your selected web articles or online media, and a brief description about your selection for each, to the discussion Risks, Failures and Responsibilities keywords. Follow links provided by 3 other students, review their suggested articles and media, and write a brief reply to the author for each.


 * 1) Take the quiz Ethics and Responsibilities. Answer based on your reading from the selected media. When you have completed all the questions, submit your quiz for grading.

You should have created a user account and a personal User page for your account already. http://wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial/Creating_an_Account/Instructions Practice writing and editing by adding a summary of your MidTerm topic to your user page. Help links are available - left navigation, and at the bottom of editable pages. There are several tutorials available as well - basic editing, including media, free image sources, collaborative editing. http://wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial Post a link to your WikiEducator User page in the WikiEducator Users discussion.  http://www.wikieducator.org/User:...your user name...
 * 1) We will be using the WikiEducator.org wiki for collaborative writing where everyone in the project group works together to prepare your project presentations. Wikieducator is intended as a resource for learners and educators. http://wikieducator.org


 * 1) Search the web for sites that talk about medicine and computers. Find one that you think are particularly interesting. Your "find" should be dated within the last year. Write a critical-thinking question about the social issues discussed. Post the web site address and your question to the Forum discussion Medicine and Computers. Facilitate your discussion and participate in at least 2 other discussions. Things to think about - Why is this important to society? What is the impact on society?

Be aware of the dates on sources of material. Just like old library books or periodicals, old web articles can provide misleading and out-dated information.


 * 1) But can we trust other people? Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/ is an online encyclopedia with articles written and edited by site visitors. This experiment in creating an open-source reference "book" hosts millions of articles contributed by thousands of volunteers and is growing daily. Wikipedia receives 60 million visitors a day. Although Wikipedia's success has been tarnished a little by vandalism, some misinformation, and fights over certain controversial topics, the wiki concept of an open site maintained by its users, has been a hit. Look in Wikipedia for a topic that interests you or read the daily feature on the front page.

Be sure to look at the History and Discussion (links in the page header) for the Wikipedia page you select. In the History, find a contributor with a profile and read their profile. In the Discussion, see if there is any controversy or ideas for changes. Some topics have caused considerable discussion as there are a broad range of views. For some topics, there is even conflicting scientific data to support opposing views. In the Wikipedia and Trust discussion provide the link to page you reviewed and a brief summary of the story behind the story including information from the History and Discussion.


 * 1) Reflection - What are some questions that YOU still have about the topic? Your response should be two or three paragraphs. Submit to I wonder... assignment.

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