Revised Feb 3, 2016

CS 492: The Social Implications of Computing

Watch a video introduction to this course on YouTube.

General description

This course considers the impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society. Students learn how to make informed judgements about the social and ethical consequences of deploying computing technologies and how to foster critical thought and professional responsibility.

Logistics

Audience

• CS major students. Usually taken in fourth year.

Normally available

• Winter and Spring

Related courses

• Pre-requisites: CS 240; Computer Science students only

For official details, see the UW calendar.

Software/hardware used

• Text editor/formatter of student's choice for preparing assignments
• Piazza-style discussion board

Typical reference(s)

• Current readings on the subtopics of the course, including academic articles, newspaper articles, magazine articles
• Online videos are occasionally used for reference (academic talks or television shows)

Required preparation

At the start of the course, students should be able to

• Read articles on the social implications of computing and identify and reflect on the primary arguments of the authors
• Independently examine the critical issues surrounding the social implications of computing and the ethical behaviour of computer scientists
• Contribute to in-class discussions and respond constructively to the opinions of their fellow students
• Collaborate in a small group to do a presentation on a particular position on a current social issue regarding computerization
• Collaborate in a small group to create a written response to a current social issue regarding computerization

Learning objectives

At the end of the course, students should be able to

• Identify important social implications of computerization
• Describe how to behave ethically as a computer scientist
• Propose technological and social solutions to current challenges presented by computerization (recommended actions)
• Combine their opinions with information from existing research in both written and oral formats
• Collaborate with peers on open-ended topics where there is often no clear definitive response
• Formulate clear, constructive feedback on arguments constructed by their peers
• Identify where their knowledge of computer science provides a valuable contribution to the overall dialogue about the social implications of computing

Typical syllabus

Introduction (6 hours)

• General issues that arise with computer technologies
• Comparisons with other forms of technology
• Methodologies in social sciences
• Philosophical basis of ethical discussion

Themes (18 hours)

• Major aspects of the impact of computing, including some of the following: privacy, computerization and work, security and safety, computer-mediated interaction, intellectual property issues, public perception of computers, professionalism and responsibility, ethical behaviour of computer scientists, the limits of computing (this list is not exhaustive and relevant topics will change over time)

Specific situations and technologies (10 hours)

• Possible topics include liability for software errors, software piracy, computers and education, universal identification, displacement of workers, personalized advertising on the web, electronic monitoring, artificial intelligence in society, computers and children, the digital divide, censorship on the web, professional societies for computer scientists (this list is not exhaustive and relevant topics will change over time)