Ethical Issues: Computer Safety

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Ethical Issues Computer Safety

• CSC-385 Bret Mohler

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Introduction

• Computers are either a part of or impacted the
  production of just about every product you use
  and buy. As technology advances we rely on it
  more and more. Those systems have become
  increasingly more complex and we place greater
  responsibility on them. If these systems fail
  how will it impact us?

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Topics to Discus

• Are we over confident?
• How much responsibility should be given to
  computers and the applications that run them?
• Should there be stricter regulation on software
  and computer controlled devices?

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The Safety Trade Offs

• Medical Machines
• Therac-25, Disease Testing Machines
• Improved testing manual fail safes Board
  Approval of design
• Communications
• Stock Market, Hospitals, Law Enforcement
• Redundant systems scheduled quality checks
• Transportation
• Automated Trains, Plains, Cars
• Testing and safety board approval manual
  overrides and checks
• Entertainment
• Personal phones, Media devices
• Clear safe use instructions
• Scientific
• Weather Forecasting, Protein Sequencers
• Larger budgets for newer more capable computers
  systems

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Resources

• Baase, Sara. A Gift of Fire. Ed. Toni D. Holm.
  New Jersey Pearson Education, Inc. 2003
• http//arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060202-6100
  .html