Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Undergraduate Texts in Computer Science) [Hardcover]

Joseph M. Kizza (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387982752 | ISBN-13: 978-0387982755 | Publication Date: November 7, 1997 | Edition: 1

This textbook provides an introduction to the social and policy issues which have arisen as a result of information technology. Whilst it assumes a modest familiarity with computers, its aim is to provide a guide to the issues suitable for undergraduates. In doing so, the author prompts the students to consider questions such as: * How do morality and the law relate to each other? * What sould be covered in a professional Code of Conduct for Information Technology professionals? * What are the ethical issues relating to copying software? * Is electronic monitoring of employees wrong? * What are the moral codes of cyberspace? Throughout, the book shows how in many ways the technological development is outpacing the ability of our legal systems to keep up, and how different paradigms applied to ethical questions may often offer conflicting conclusions. As a result students will find this to be a thought-provoking and valuable survey of the new and difficult ethical questions that the Internet, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality have created.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews of the third edition: "It is encouraging to encounter a textbook for undergraduate students that is devoted to information age ethics ... . This third edition contains three new chapters. ... I appreciate Kizza's work in the ethical education of information technology (IT) students. ... Overall, I recommend this very basic ... but significant educational topic as an introductory text." (Brad Reid, Computing Reviews, December, 2008) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

Ethical dilemmas have risen in number and intensity with the increasing dependence of contemporary society on computers and computer networks. Despite the proliferation of expert remedies, viable solutions to computer security issues remain too elusive, and society continues to suffer at the hands of cyber criminals, vandals, and hackers. This thoroughly revised and expanded fourth edition of the successful Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age provides an up-to-date examination of the 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 information-enabling devices. This accessible textbook/reference broadly surveys thought-provoking questions about the impact of these new technologies, with particular emphasis on the rapid growth of a multitude of computer networks, including the Internet. It assumes only a very modest familiarity with basic computer literacy. Topics and features: • Describes how changes in information technology influence morality and the law • Establishes a philosophical framework and analytical tools for discussing moral theories and problems in ethical relativism (NEW) • Offers a pertinent discussion on privacy, surveillance, civil liberties, harassment, and discrimination • Supplies an overview of the history of computing science in hardware, software, and networking (NEW) • Examines how developments in information technology have changed the traditional issues of intellectual property rights • Surveys the evolution of computer crimes, their types, costs on society, and strategies of detection and prevention, as well as techniques in electronic crime investigation • Discusses the new frontiers of ethics: virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet • Reviews the new realities of computer networks, and their implications for global ethics, culture, and economics (NEW) • Introduces the fundamentals of network-security system design and operation, revealing vulnerable areas in computer network infrastructure • Explores biometric techniques to system access control • Incorporates recent requirements for computer curricula • Provides exercises, objectives, and issues for discussion with every chapter This comprehensive text/reference provides updated discussion of the ethical and social issues that continue to evolve as computing and information technologies proliferate. Students at all levels who need to learn about computer ethics, the legal aspects of computing, network security, computer crime investigation, and biometrics will find this well-documented work an invaluable resource. The book is also highly useful for practitioners needing such insights for their work. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (November 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387982752
• ISBN-13: 978-0387982755
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,564,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A myriad of topics each discussed briefly, February 19, 2000

By 

Daniel Mall (San Gabriel, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Undergraduate Texts in Computer Science) (Hardcover)

Excellent chapters covering morality, law, ethics, professional codes, and intellectual property rights. Provides a basic introduction to many topics that stimulate further study, research, and discussion. Discussion of social issues is limited. The weaker chapters are the modern areas of the information age such as cyberspace, the internet, email, privacy, security, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book that Raises Excellent Discussion Points, January 5, 2009

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Richard Harding (Bridgeville, DE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Texts in Computer Science) (Hardcover)

This book covers many topics, and is meant to provide more questions than answers. The author does an excellent job of discussing points that the reader is able to ponder on their own.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly assembled college text, April 8, 2008

By 

Jeff W. Slocum - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Texts in Computer Science) (Hardcover)

Many chapters ramble on with insignificant facts making it difficult to see what point the author is trying to make. Typographical errors are abundant due to insufficient editing and proofreading. I recommend schools find a different text to ethics in technology courses.