CS3043 Social Implications of Information Processing
A-Term 1999

Class Hours and Web Site

Instructors

Section 2 - Mike Ciaraldi.
Office: Fuller Labs 243
Phone: 508-831-5117
Office Hours: Monday and Thursday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. or by appointment.
ciaraldi@wpi.edu
http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~ciaraldi/

Teaching Assistant: Dave Markle
Office: Fuller Labs A20 (in the sub-basement)
Office hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:00 p.m., Friday noon-1:00 p.m.
alfadog@cs.wpi.edu

Texts

• Computers, Ethics & Social Values, Johnson and Nissenbaum, Prentice Hall, 1995.
• Supplementary Articles

Course Objectives

• raise our awareness of the effect of computers and information technology on our current and future ways of life,
• encourage us to reflect on the responsibility of a computer professional to society,
• inform us the controversial issues of integrating computers into our lives and the different points of view on these issues, and
• help us develop the ability to form a personal opinion based on well thought out arguments and to effectively present our positions.

Grading

• Participation in class discussion 15%
• Homework Papers 50%
• Notecards 10%
• Group Project 25%

Homework Paper & Project Rules

• Plan out your papers carefully. Concisely define your issue(s), give some state-of-the-art survey, lay out your thesis, support your arguments with several attributions, and give some trade-offs.
• To achieve our course objectives, it is imperative that you attend class regularly and stay up to date on all readings and assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Writing Center Tutors

Class Outline