A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet: United States Edition - Softcover

Baase, Sara

3.46

285 ratings by Goodreads

9780130082152: A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet: United States Edition

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130082155 ISBN 13: 9780130082152

Publisher: Pearson, 2002

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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.

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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.

Recurring Themes

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.

Instructional Tools

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.

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