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Fall 2001 |
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GVPT/BSOS333 Information Technology & Society
TTh 9:30-10:45, Room 1410, Computer and Space Sciences Bldg.
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SYLLABUS
Introduction
August 30/September 4
Write:
Write a short essay (roughly 300 words) about some topic related to Information Technology that interests you and has social or ethical implications. Describe the background; then identify the political, social, economic, legal, or ethical issues, problems, or questions that you think are important. Don't make your essay be just an argument for one point of view. You may express your views if you want to, but first explain what the issues are, why there is a problem or a controversy. Also make note of anything from the Standage book that is related.
Due:
Friday, September 7, by midnight. Your essay should be submitted as an e-mail attachment in Word, WordPerfect, or other standard word processing format.
In addition, please e-mail your top four choices of course project to the instructor by Wednesday, September 5.
Early Communications Developments
September 6/11
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Standage (all)
Due:
Your essay, as noted above, is due on September 7, by midnight.
History of the Internet's Development
September 13/18
Where did Internet technologies come from and how have they changed the ways in which we interact with each other? What are the social implications of IT in the real world and in virtual space? Economic? Political? Legal? Have IT developments changed the way in which we learn? Work? Play? Consume?
Write:
Write a paper (roughly 600 words) about some topic related to Information Technology that interests you and has social or ethical implications. Describe the background; then identify the political, social, economic, legal, or ethical issues, problems, or questions that you think are important. Be careful to identify your sources. This is our first group project. Your paper should be submitted as an e-mail attachment in Word, WordPerfect, or other standard word processing format, and will be due Sunday, September 23, by midnight. Presentations of this paper will be done in-class Thursday, September 27 and Thursday, October 4.
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Jeff Johnson, "The Information Highway from Hell: A Worst-Case Scenario" (1995).
"Joy warns of tech Armageddon" http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2461470,00.html
Browse:
Who's online?
September 20
For this class session explore the survey data and reports below seeking information about specific topics assigned on September 13:
Read and be prepared to discuss:
General Social Survey 2000- Internet Module (SDA)
Pew Internet and American Life: Daily Tracking Survey. (March thru June 2000) (SDA)
Pew Research Center for the People and the Press: The Internet Audience Goes Ordinary
Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society, Internet Study (2000).
UCLA Center for Communication Policy: UCLA Internet Report (2000)
Internet Trends, 1996-1999: by Professor Bruce Bimber, Department of Political Science, University of California at Santa Barbara. (SDA)
Information & Power
September 25/27
Despite the rapid spread of personal computers and Internet access throughout American homes and businesses, not all sectors of society are keeping up with the changes. Though this new revolution is said to be giving all people more access to information, education, and power in unprecedented ways, your ability to use this access may depend on your class, race, or educational background (among other factors). Who is really using these new technologies, and how do different patterns of use impact already existing patterns of education, wealth, and power? Is increasing technology use just creating a 'digital divide', where those who are already well-off do better, while those already behind fall further back?
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Baase, Chapter 9, pp. 293-305.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Clinton Administration's Digital Divide Web site http://www.digitaldivide.gov/ . Be sure to read at least the reports titled Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide (July 1999), and Falling Through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide (July 1998).
Novak, T. and Hoffman, D. 1998. "Bridging the Digital Divide: The Impact of Race on Computer Access and Internet Use."
Gender and Race on the Internet: See the resources at http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/GenderMedia/cyber.html
Issues regarding disabilities, see http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/
Due:
The thesis statement for your group projects is due by Friday, September 28. This should be submitted as an e-mail attachment in Word, WordPerfect, or other standard word processing format. The thesis statement should include the following: what questions you will address in your project, a working bibliography of at least three sources you plan on using, and a short description of each source.
Community
October 2/4
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Kraut, R. Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S, Mukophadhyay, T & Scherlis, W. "Internet Paradox: A Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement And Psychological Well-Being? American Psychologist, Vol. 53, No. 9.
Kraut, R., Kiesler, S., Boneva, B., Cumming, J., Helgeson, V., and A. Crawford. "Internet Paradox Revisited"
"A Slice of Life in My Virtual Community," by Howard Rheingold
"Virtuality and Its Discontents: Searching for Community in Cyberspace," by Sherry Turkle
"Is there a there in cyberspace?" by John Perry Barlow "Does the Internet Strengthen Community?" by William A. GalstonBrowse:
"Net Timeline" (PBS Life on the Internet series)Write:
Select at least two of the readings assigned under the "Community" topic (either week) and review the authors' primary arguments. What are they trying to say? Do they present evidence to support their theses? Do they complement one another, or do they disagree? Explain. The paper should be at least 800 words, well written and appropriately documented. In-class presentations will take place on Thursday, October 11 and Thursday, October 18. All groups should use PowerPoint to present your papers. Work with your group members. Paper due Wednesday, October 10, by midnight.
Due:
October 9/11
How does Information Technology affect the relationship between government and governed?
Write:
Students will be assigned a particular problem in ethics, and asked to write a paper on the given topic. The paper should be at least 800 words, well written and appropriately documented. In-class presentations will take place on Thursday, October 25 and Thursday, November 1. All groups should use PowerPoint to present your papers. Work with your group members. Paper due Wednesday, October 24, by midnight.
Read and be prepared to discuss:
"A Cyberspatial Declaration of Independence:" by John Perry Barlow.
"The Internet Changes Dictatorship's Rules," by Barbara Crossette (NY Times, 1999)
Arizona primary turnout doubled with online voting (AP Press, 03/13/00)
Pippa Norris, "Who Surfs? New Technology, Old Voters and Virtual Democracy in America."
Amitai Etzioni, "Teledemocracy," The Atlantic, vo.270, no.4 (October 1992), pp. 36-39.
E-Commerce
October 16/18
With the tremendous growth of electronic commerce, it is inevitable that a number of important issues have arisen. What are some of the implications for the economy, for individual privacy? Do some industries especially benefit? Are others particularly hurt? What are some of the ways in which daily commercial transactions and economic decisions have been affected? Are there significant social benefits or detriments from electronic commerce? Privacy and security issues?Read and be prepared to discuss:
"Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce
Report to Congress," http://www.ecommercecommission.org/
President William J. Clinton and Vice President Albert Gore, Jr. "A Framework For Global Electronic Commerce."
"The Electronic Frontier: The Challenge of Unlawful Conduct Involving the
Group paper, as assigned above, due Wednesday, October 24, by midnight. Presentations will be given in-class Thursday, October 25 and Thursday, November l.
Ethical Considerations
October 23/25
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Baase, Chapters 9 and 10 (all)
Bruce Gottlieb, "HacK, CouNterHaCk," NY Times Magazine, October 3, 1999.
Jessica Litman, "Digital Copyright." (Promethesus Books, 2001) Chap 2. Reno v. ACLU, 96 U.S. 511 (the Supreme Court decision voiding the Communications and Decency Act), available at http://www.aclu.org/court/renovacludec.html . Browse: Internet Society Information on Internet Censorship: http://www.isoc.org/internet/issues/censorshipInternet Society Information on Internet Encryption: http://www.isoc.org/internet/issues/encryption
Write:
Students will be assigned a particular problem in privacy, and asked to write a paper on the given topic. The paper should be at least 800 words, well written and appropriately documented. In-class presentations will take place on Thursday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 13. All groups should use PowerPoint to present your papers. Work with your group members. Paper due Wednesday, November 7, by midnight.
Privacy
October 30/November 1
How do developments in IT enhance personal freedom? How do they threaten privacy interests? Clearly, IT has allowed individuals to communicate with and receive information from a global community, and we have seen significant change in shopping and entertainment activities in which people engage. By the same token, corporate marketers have obtained greater ability to target potential consumer audiences more effectively, and employers are able to monitor their workplaces for greater efficiency. Governments also have a clear interest in maintaining domestic order and in protecting important infrastructures from security risks. In addition, the courts have upheld an employer's right to snoop on workers, since workers are using company equipment on company premises and on company time. What are the liberty-privacy trade-offs in this mix? Are these essentially economic questions? Political? Legal?
Read and be prepared to discuss:
Baase, Chapters 2, 3, and 5 (all), Chapter 6, pp. 213-222.
Browse:
New York Times articles on Privacy in the Digital Age
Center for Democracy and Technology
Electronic Privacy Information Center
Americans for Computer Privacy (mainly concerned with encryption policy)
Due:
Group paper, as assigned above, due Wednesday, November 7, by midnight. Presentations will be given in-class Thursday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 13.
Individual Conferences and Project Work: November 6-15
Project drafts due: November 20 Thankgiving: November 22 Project presentations
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Last Updated: 08/27/01