Media Presentation

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UBC 531
Media Presentation 2
By Duff Douglas 12973954
How does Sci-fi contribute to highlighting
ethical problems related to the implementation of
new technologies?
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A long time ago in a Galaxy far far away
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Science Fiction movies have become more popular
since the late 1970s with movies such as Star
Wars, 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and more
recently Minority Report and I, Robot.
How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa
if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the
canvas 'The lady is smiling because she is
hiding a secret from her lover.' This would
shackle the viewer to reality, and I don't want
this to happen to 2001. - Stanley Kubrick
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What do you do after watching a movie?
Chat about the topics brought up in the film
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Science Fiction films have the power to bring up
topics and create interest unlike any other
medium such as a textbook, article, or a teacher
lecturing a class.
2001 A Space Odyssey is based upon Arthur C.
Clarkes short stories, most notably The Sentinel
wrote in 1951
Ethical issues raised in the film
Should we explore space?
Is Artificial Intelligence a good thing?
FACT 2001 A Space Odyssey was the first film to
show a GUI interface which would become popular
in Windows Apple computers. (Wikipedia, 2004)
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Why do Sci-Fi Movies cause discussion?
We should first ask what sparked the popularity
of Sci-Fi?
Movies that were inspired by these events
Armageddon Sum of all Fears E.T. Independence Day
The bombing of Japan in 1945 brought about the
realization that weapons of mass destruction are
not simply a fable created by Science Fiction
July 20th 1969 saw man land on the moon and open
up societys eyes to the idea that anything is
possible and we might not be alone in the
universe.
(Terraformer, 2000)
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Three categories of Sci-Fi Films (Terraformer,
2000)
Movie gives the feeling that technology is great
and gives us endless possibilities
Technophilia
Technophobia
Pessimistic towards technology. Technology
threatens the independence of man
Techno-apathy
Technology is to man as breathing is to living -
inseparable
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Ethical Problems with Modern Technology
By Eric Douglas Nielsen, Michigan State
University
very few people truly understand how computers
work, or pause to think about the changes
computers cause in our lives and in our society.
In general, ethics are rules that govern actions
and decisions in a particular profession.
American Heritage Dictionary
What role do the codes of conduct really play for
programmers? How are these codes of conduct
implemented and applied? What is being done to
limit people from programming/developing anything
they wish?

• Computer Ethics
• Coined by this guy
• Dr. Walter Maner

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A Case Study of Sci Fi Movies Ethics Gataca
Would you program your unborn child to have no
genetic defects?
Would you hire someone whose DNA states that they
have a 87 chance of dying of a heart attack by
age 36?
Would you believe any of this is actually
possible?
Genetic Testing could lead to
- Discrimination - Playing God - The end of
individuality (Lipp, 2002)
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Designing away the gift of Life by Donald Bruce
Scenario A You have 3 boys and a daughter who
was just killed. Should you be able to manipulate
genetics to make sure you get a baby girl?
Scenario B Your daughter is dying of a rare
genetic disease and your only hope is to have a
baby boy who could give his bone marrow to save
her.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
"We used to think that our fate was in our stars.
Now we know that, in large measure, our fate is
in our genes. - Francis Crick, co-founder of DNA
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A Case Study of Sci Fi Movies Ethics
Minority Report
If you could foretell a murder and have time to
stop it would you?
If you knew someone would murder someone at a
future time and place would you arrest that
person?
If you could see your future would you take a
peek?
No!
YES!
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References
Bruce, Donald. (No Date). Designing Away the Gift
of Life. Retrieved October 16, 2004, from
http//www.srtp.org.uk/dsgnbab2.htm Lipp,
Elizabeth. (2002). Ethical Problems with Genetic
Testing. Retrieved October 15, 2004, from
http//writing.colostate.edu/gallery/talkingback/v
2.2/lipp.htm Nielsen, Eric. (No date). Ethical
Problems with Modern Technology. Retrieved
October 13, 2004, from http//www.cpsr.net/oldsite
/externalSiteView/essays/2003/3rr2.html Terraform
er. (2000). The Role of Technology. Retrieved
October 14, 2004, from http//home10.inet.tele.dk/
terra/themes.html Wikipedia.org. (2004). 2001
A Space Odyssey. Retrieved October 13, 2004, from
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_A_Space_Odyssey