CMPUT 300 - Winter 2012

Computers and Society

 

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Course Home

Lectures

Assignments

Submitting Homework

 

A 5 to 8 pages paper is required for each unit. Topics and due dates will be announced in advance. You only need to turn in five of the six papers; you get to choose which one you skip.

 

Ethics

Due February 11

 

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class to discuss ethical issues associated to computer technologies. I would like you to take a specific topic, present why it is important (20 pts), discuss other opinions (10 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), analyze this topic using four of the major ethical theories I have presented in class (30 pts), and then present your own arguments (20 pts). Possible topics are:

 

1.    Ethics of the link between war and computer technologies

2.    Ethics of computers and democracy

3.    Ethics of computer mediated whistleblowers (Wikileaks)

4.    Ethics of open source movement

5.    Ethics of privacy and security

6.    Ethics of Video Games

7.    Ethics of government and corporate control of the internet

8.    Etc.

 

Privacy

Due March 14

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class to discuss privacy issues associated to computer technologies. I would like you to take a specific privacy issue, present the privacy challenges (30 pts), discuss other opinions (20 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), and then present your own arguments on how to solve the challenges (30 pts). Possible topics are:

 

1.    Privacy law and computer technologies

2.    Mass surveillance by Government

3.    Surveillance by corporations and individuals

4.    Privacy and commercial use of personal information

5.    Privacy protection technologies

6.    Privacy and Smart-Cards with RFID

7.    Link between privacy and freedom

8.    Corporate privacy and industrial espionage

9.    Etc.

 

Freedom of Speech and e-Democracy

Due March 24

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class to discuss freedom of speech issues associated to computer technologies. I would like you to discuss a specific aspect of freedom of speech on the internet, present the challenges (30 pts), discuss other opinions (20 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), and then present your own arguments on how to solve the challenges (30 pts). Possible topics are:

 

1.    Freedom of speech and blogs

2.    Freedom of speech and hate propaganda on the internet

3.    Internet censorship

4.    Internet and the promotion of democracy

5.    Direct democracy using the internet

6.    Libel and Facebook

7.    Electronic Voting

8.    Anonymity and the Internet

9.    Direct democracy and the internet

10.           Etc.

 

Social Networks

Due March 31

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class to discuss social networks issues. I would like you to discuss a specific aspect of social networking, present the challenges (30 pts), discuss other opinions (20 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), and then present your own arguments on how to solve the challenges (30 pts). Possible topics are:

 

1.    The role of social networks and virtual communities

2.    What is the future of social networks?

3.    Is Facebook a mass-spying information system or just a simple apps?

4.    Should social network be protected by a special legislation?

5.    Social networks vs the modern nomadic society

6.    Are social networks a fashion or here to stay?

7.    How should user define privacy of social networks?

8.    Etc.

 

Intellectual Property

Due April 8

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class and discuss intellectual property issues. I would like you to discuss an aspect of a specific intellectual property issue, present the challenges (30 pts), discuss other opinions (20 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), and then present your own arguments on how to solve the challenges (30 pts). Possible topics are:

 

1.    Is strong IP control necessary or even possible on the internet?

2.    Can we solve the IP problems using technologies like MPEG-20?

3.    Who should be in charge if IP policing on the internet?

4.    Should corporations have IP rights on the internet?

5.    Should individuals have IP rights on the internet?

6.    Are the current US and Canadian legislations necessaries?

7.    Etc.

 

 

Risks/Benefits of Computer Systems

Due April 18

The main idea of this essay is to apply what you have learned in class on the risk/benefit analysis of computer systems. I would like you to choose a specific issue, present the challenges (30 pts), discuss other opinions (20 pts), discuss the pros and cons of each argument (20 pts), and then present your own arguments on how to solve the challenges (30 pts) using a risk-benefit analysis framework. Possible topics are:

 

1.    How can we design secure internet systems?

2.    Impact of computer on the private/public life

3.    Issues with e-democracy

4.    Should the internet be redesigned?

5.    How can we improve computers to preserve privacy?

6.    Should computer take more decisions using AI?

7.    Should we have computer everywhere?

8.    Should we get rid of money and only use e-money?

9.    Etc.