Product Description

For courses in Computer Ethics and Computers & Society.

This text explores social, legal, philosophical, ethical, political, constitutional and economic implications of computing from a computer scientist's point of view. It covers the issues students will face both as members of a technological society and as professionals in computer-related fields. One of its goals is to develop computer professionals who understand the implications of what they create and how it fits into society at large—another is to help students outside of computer science understand the issues and controversies generated by computers and the Internet.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304246 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review

• Extensively updated material—Free speech issues on the Internet (censorship, spam, anonymity); privacy threats on the Web; search and surveillance technologies and their impact on the Fourth Amendment; government interception of telephone calls and e-mail (Carnivore, Echelon); intellectual property in cyberspace; computer crime (hacking, hacktivism, online fraud).

  • Explores new and emerging issues and controversies and presents students with many arguments and viewpoints.

• Recent significant laws, court cases and decisions—Includes the Napster case, recent Web censorship attempts, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

  • Enables students to apply arguments to actual cases and understand controversies in a concrete context.

• Added boxed information.

  • Highlights and describes examples, cases, and issues.

• Added and updated exercises—Now totaling approximately 300.

  • Engages students in lively class discussion or individual presentations.

From the Back Cover

A Gift of Fire covers the challenges and implications of computer technology—and the responsibilities of professionals who design and use computer systems. Topics include privacy (data-collection and surveillance technologies and issues), freedom of speech, computer failures, intellectual property, hacking, critics of technology, and more.

Updated with new material throughout, this text continues to provide a comprehensive look at new issues. Intended for students preparing for careers in computer science and students in other fields interested in issues that arise from computer technology, this book can be used in both introductory and advanced classes about computing or technology.

Controversies and alternative points of view such as privacy versus law enforcement, freedom of speech versus restricting content on the Internet, intellectual property protection versus access to information, and banning tools and technologies that have beneficial and harmful impacts.

Perspectives: Comparing risks and problems of computer technology with other technologies, non-computerized alternatives, and benefits of computers.

Solutions to computer-related problem from technology, the market, management, education, and law.

Hundreds of exercises, many based on real cases, many, suitable for class discussion or student presentations.

Instructor's Manual at http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire.

About the Author

Sara Baase is Professor Emeritus with the Department of Computer Science, San Diego State University, where she won awards for outstanding teaching. Her textbooks in computer science have been translated into several languages. Dr. Baase received her doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Customer Reviews

Good book.
A complete book on the interactions of that magic box(computer) with the human beings, and a perfect guide for a dummy to how to react to that magic box.