Overview
Advances in computing and information science are often outpacing the ability of legal systems to keep pace, and different paradigms applied to the same ethical issues can often lead to conflicting conclusions. This continues to apply even in the new post-PC era of miniature information-enabling devices."Ethics and Social Issues in the Information Age" examines ethical, social, and policy challenges stemming from the emergence of cyberspace, the convergence of telecommunication and computing technologies, and the miniaturization of computing, telecommunication, and other information-handling products.
The book provides thought-provoking questions about the impact of these new technologies, with particular emphasis placed on the growth of the Internet, artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and virtual reality. It assumes a modest familiarity with basic computer literacy.
Topics and features: *Describes how changes in technology influence morality *Considers what should be covered in a professional code of conduct for IT professionals *Provides a historical survey of computing, cyberspace, and computer crime *Assesses workplace concerns related to privacy, surveillance, and virtual officesv *Offers a pertinent discussion on civil liberties, harassment, and discrimination
Synopsis
The rapid pace of change in computing demands a continuous review of our defensive strategies, and a strong ethical framework in our computer science education.
This fully revised and enhanced fifth edition of Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age examines the ethical, social, and policy challenges stemming from the convergence of computing and telecommunication, and the proliferation of mobile information-enabling devices. This accessible and engaging text surveys thought-provoking questions about the impact of these new technologies.
Topics and features: establishes a philosophical framework and analytical tools for discussing moral theories and problems in ethical relativism; offers pertinent discussions on privacy, surveillance, employee monitoring, biometrics, civil liberties, harassment, the digital divide, and discrimination; examines the new ethical, cultural and economic realities of computer social network ecosystems (NEW); reviews issues of property rights, responsibility and accountability relating to information technology and software; discusses how virtualization technology informs our ethical behavior (NEW); introduces the new frontiers of ethics - virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet; surveys the social, moral and ethical value systems in mobile telecommunications (NEW); explores the evolution of electronic crime, network security, and computer forensics; provides exercises, objectives, and issues for discussion with every chapter.
This comprehensive textbook incorporates the latest requirements for computer science curricula. Both students and practitioners will find the book an invaluable source of insight into computer ethics and law, network security, and computer crime investigation.