Course Outline UPDATED 1/04/09

 

CS 4830 (ID:)     Social Implications of Computing        Spring Semester 2009

Wednesday at 12pm in TE202S

 

 

Instructor

Name: Dr. David L. Ferro

Email:

Web: www.davidferro.org

Phone: 626-8095

Office: TE110a

Hours:

 

Name: Dr. Eric Swedin

Email: eswedin@weber.edu

Web: http://www.swedin.org/

Phone: 395-3553

Office: DV137L (Davis campus)

Hours:

Texts

First book for the semester:

Geekonomics: The Real Cost of Insecure Software by David Rice

Second book for the semester:
Different Engines: How Science Drives Fiction and Fiction Drives Science by Mark Brake and Neil Hook

More TBD and TBA (see bottom of schedule for possibilities)

 

 

Tentative Class Schedule, Topic Guide, and Assignments

Week

Starting

Topic

1

Monday,

Jan 5

Introduction to Class.

For next week, read: A Logic Named Joe

(ForYourEnjoyment: Free S.F. online: http://www.freesfonline.de/index.php)

2

Monday,

Jan 12

  For next week read: Rice, Chapter 1

3

Monday,

Jan 19

For next week read: Rice, Chapter 2

4

Monday,

Jan 26

For next week read: Rice, Chapter 3

5

Monday,

Feb 2

For next week read: Rice, Chapter 4

6

Monday,

Feb 9

For next week read: Rice, Chapter 5

7

Monday,

Feb 16

For next week read: Rice, Chapter6

8

Monday,

Feb 23

For next week read: Rice, Chapter 7

9

Monday,

Mar 2

For next week read Brake and Hook, Chapter 6

Monday,

Mar 9

<<<<<<SPRING BREAK>>>>>

10

Monday,

Mar 16

For next week read Brake and Hook, Chapter 1

11

Monday,

Mar 23

For next week read Brake and Hook, Chapter 2

12

Monday,

Mar 30

For next week read Brake and Hook, Chapter 3

13

Monday,

April 6

For next week read Brake and Hook, Chapter 4

14

Monday,

April 13

For next week bring in results of research  

15

Monday,

April 20

 

  16

 

 NO final exam

 

 

Class Objective

To introduce students to perspectives on the interaction between Computer Science and society.

Class Organization

Class will consist of lecture and discussion on topics assigned through this outline and class assignments.  The instructor will expect the students to have read the covered chapters prior to classroom instruction.  The instructors will engage with the class to assure that learning occurs.

 

Emailing the professor: whenever you do this you must include in your subject line “class-name-subjectmatter”.  For example: “cs4830-davidferro-question about stephenson”.  This is very important for me to stay organized and I will ignore your emails if you persist in not satisfying this reasonable request.  I will respond that I have received your email.  Save my responses as they may be useful in the event of a conflict of opinion on whether you have sent me an email or not.  DO NOT SEND multiple copies of the same email.

Exams, Projects, Homework, Class Participation

This course is discussion-based.  There are no tests, quizzes, written paper, programs or other objects that must be turned in typically. However, the professors may have the students find material to bring in. This might include the results of interviewing individuals on a particular topic. The professors are also free to occasionally request something to be turned in but, again, the point of the class is discussion.

Grading Policies

Based entirely on participation.  You must come to class prepared to discuss and potentially present the material in line with requested topics and your own ideas.  You will be well served – often – to take the time to have notes and do some additional research and reading.

 

Final letter grades given final scores:

>= 94

A

90–93

A-

87-89

B+

84-86

B

80-83

B-

77-79

C+

74-78

C

70-73

C-

67-69

D+

60-66

D

<60

E

Note on Special Needs

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center.  SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

WSU Student Code

Students are expected to be familiar with the WSU Student Code and abide by it.  The Code may be reviewed on line at http://www.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm (pay specific attention to Section 4D).  All necessary steps will be taken to enforce the Student Code to guarantee fairness to all students.

 

 

Possible web pages for reading


http://www.eweek.com/print_article2/0,2533,a=141552,00.asp
http://www.wired.com/news/linux/0,1411,66022,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
http://kerneltrap.org/node/4484
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4145191.stm
http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,66156,00.html
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/perimeter_pr.html
http://www.reason.com/0407/fe.bl.truths.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040930.html
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/drexler_pr.html
http://www.cio.com/archive/091504/microsoft.html/
http://www.cioinsight.com/print_article2/0,2533,a=138678,00.asp
http://www.baselinemag.com/print_article2/0,2533,a=138516,00.asp
http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/1243/1/1/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1206/p11s01-legn.html
http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/software/0,39023769,39168647,00.htm
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,65819,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/12/30/142458/25
http://slate.msn.com/id/2110446/
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/01/issue/ferguson0105.asp?p=0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4105007.stm
http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2004/122904/TRN's_Top_Picks_122904.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1119_041119_brain_petri_dish.html#main

 

http://programming.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/01/25/1859253

 

http://www.theflasharchive.com/f/f-50.htm

http://braeburn.ath.cx/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/HighNotes.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/books/review/31POSNER.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.safesimplesoon.com/

 

and biotechnology:

http://www.cambia.org/
http://www.bios.net/daisy/bios/15
https://www.bioforge.net/

 

From Luke Fernandez:

http://dev.chitester.weber.edu/misc/weber/learningmodules/index.html

 

and more:


http://www.herald-sun.com/business/21-608287.html
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/bezos.html?tw=wn_tophead_6
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,66210,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
http://www.google.com/googlegroups/archive_announce_20.html
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1749394,00.asp?kc=ewnws011005dtx1k0000599
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1749328,00.asp?kc=ewnws011005dtx1k0000599
http://blogs.salon.com/0000014/2005/01/03.html#a804
http://www.herinteractive.com/prod/index.shtml
http://home.earthlink.net/~android606/commandline/index.html
http://www.revolution-os.com/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1391951,00.html
http://www.wistechnology.com/article.php?id=1504
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/1227/116.html
http://trends.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/01/24/2141242&tid=29
http://www.unixwiz.net/techtips/be-consultant.html
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050117fa_fact
http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Preparing_talks/TalkStrt.html
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/webb/GoodSeminars.htm
http://www.mythtv.org/modules.php?name=MythFeatures
http://www.cioinsight.com/print_article2/0,2533,a=29264,00.asp
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/technology/circuits/10info.html?ei=5070&en=f2d0d64cee91bdbf&ex=1108702800&pagewanted=print&position=
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/specialReport.jhtml?id=4626&t=special_reports_convergence2005
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5589512.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed
http://priv.solsector.net/
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=Why-Women-Leave-I-T-&story_id=31000
http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~phoenix/vinge/vinge-sing.html
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=7884988&src=rss/technologyNews
http://www.livejournal.com/users/publius_ovidius/111672.html
http://news.com.com/Video+games--a+girl+thing/2008-1043_3-5618256.html
http://www.alwaysblack.com/blackbox/possessingbarbie.html
http://www.alwaysblack.com/blackbox/ngj.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/03DOMINANCE.html?ei=5070&en=918652d29521d352&ex=1113192000&pagewanted=print&position=
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1783473,00.asp
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/04/wo/wo_040405web.asp
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/050411ta_talk_surowiecki
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4432019.stm
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050417/ap_on_hi_te/moore_s_law_at40
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,67223,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
http://news.com.com/Opening+doors+for+women+in+computing/2100-1022_3-5557311.html?tag=sas.email
http://zabasearch.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4561771.stm
http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/games/manifesto.html
http://www.dhmo.org/
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues1998/julyaugust6/teachingundergrads.htm
http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1540,1867060,00.asp
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=185
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/18/wikipedia_quality_problem/
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051212/full/438900a.html
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_49/b3962001.htm

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20060119.html

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/

http://acarol.woz.org/

 

tp://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060128.wxcover0128/BNStory/Technology/

http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=zLElfJ9YCh0

levis lade:

http://games.slashdot.org/games/06/03/21/223249.shtml
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/06/03/22/0516243.shtml
http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/03/21/2125237.shtml

 

resources:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/braincellsfusedwithcomputerchip

http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0656.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/futurecomputing/index.html

http://www.shortflip.com/article/Google-Maps-vs-the-Rest-176.html

 

new for 2006

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1988149,00.asp

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/column/sfw13262.html

 

Links from the past

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.12/startrek.html

http://globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060110.wxwikipedia10/BNStory/International/

http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking/pocket-joystick/2006/01/11/1136863276742.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1146070
http://www.kroeker.net/published/writing-the-future.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence

http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=58&ArticleID=16808&TM=56349.09
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/671128.html
http://games.ign.com/articles/681/681548p1.html
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/4259

http://gamestudies.org/0102/squire/

http://www.worldwidelearn.com/arts-humanities/game-design-degree.htm

http://www.gignews.com/crosby1.htm

http://www.animationarena.com/majoring-in-video-game-design.html

http://www.igda.org/articles/cbateman_evolution.php
http://www.igda.org/articles/hsmith_future.php

http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2004/122904/TRN's_Top_Picks_122904.html         

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1119_041119_brain_petri_dish.html

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.04/fetishwish.html

http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/interviews/v7i01_kurzweil.html

http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70114-0.html?tw=wn_index_3

http://rense.com/general69/future.htm

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20060119.html

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy_pr.html

http://mindstalk.net/vinge/vinge-sing.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=iVI6xw9Zph8&feature=PlayList&p=98B15976635B28C2

http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/interviews/v7i01_kurzweil.html

http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70114-0.html?tw=wn_index_3

http://www.serverpipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=173400587
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/info-tech/mg18925405.700.html

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1406180788960771638&q=type%3Agpick

http://www.slashdot.org

http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0656.html

books

 

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307346605

The Road - Cormac McCarthy
http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307265432

P

A

S

T

 

&

 

P

O

S

S

I

B

L

E

 

B

O

O

K

 

R

E

A

D

I

N

G

S

 

 

The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

Computers, The Life Story of a Technology by Swedin and Ferro

The Transparent Society by David Brin

Unlocking the Clubhouse – Women in Computing by Jane Margolis and Allan Fisher.

The Cathedral & the Bazaar by Eric S. Raymond 

Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Clifford Stoll

In the beginning…was the command line by Neal Stephenson

Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer  By Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine

Computer: A History of the Information Machine by Martin Campbell-Kelly

The Art of Deception by Kevin D. Mitnick & William L. Simon

Just for Fun by  Linus Torvolds

 

Options…

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are by Henry Petroski

Human Factors In Consumer Product Design And Evaluation by Neville A. Stanton

Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society by Bruno Latour

Science, Technology, and Social Progress by Steven L. Goldman

Re-thinking History by Keith Jenkins

Science and Corporate Strategy: Du Pont R and D, 1902-1980 by David A. Hounshell

Questions of Evidence: Proof, Practice, and Persuasion across the Disciplines by James Chandler

Handbook of Science and Technology Studies by Sheila Jasanoff

The Descent of Icarus by Yaron Ezrahi

Interpretation of Cultures by Clifford Geertz

One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society by Herbert Marcuse

Technology's Storytellers: Reweaving the Human Fabric by John M. Staudenmaier

The Revolt of the Engineers by Edwin Layton

The Social Shaping of Technology: How the Refrigerator Got Its Hum by Donald A. MacKenzie

Inventing the Internet (Inside Technology) by Janet Abbate

Creating a Software Engineering Culture by Karl E. Wiegers

Shaping Things by Bruce Sterling, Lorraine Wild

The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places by Byron Reeves, Clifford Nass