ECE 101 An Introduction to Information Technology

1
ECE 101 An Introduction to Information Technology

• Ethics, Professionalism and
• The Future

2
Ethics, Professionalism the Future

• Morality
• Drawing the Line
• Behaviors What is right and wrong?
• Professional Ethics
• The Future (?)

3
Morality

• Standards of conduct that apply to everyone
• Standards of right and wrong, codes of behavior
• Many are recorded in religious writings
• Societies that do not develop moral codes against
  immoral behaviors degenerate into anarchy and
  disappear.
• Some behaviors are immoral in one culture and not
  another

4
Professional Ethics

• Standards of conduct that apply to specifically
  targeted groups (medicine, business, law,
  engineering, )
• Formulated in codes and practices
• Engineering ethics is critical discipline within
  engineering, part of thinking like an engineer

5
Drawing the Linereference Engineering Ethics
by Harris, et.al., Journ Engr.Educ. April 1996

• Distinguishing between the acceptable and
  non-acceptable example gifts from vendors
• Cheap pens
• Lunch paid by the vendor at a local restaurant
• See Redskins in a company suite
• Trip to a local golf course
• Sponsor membership in a country club
• All paid trip to Hawaii
• 10,000 check to accept an inferior and more
  expensive product?

6
Behaviorsreference The Technology Ethics Gap,
by Judith Semas

• Is is wrong to copy company software for home use
  although it is generally against the law?
• 35 say that its not wrong
• Is it ethical to use employers equipment to
  search a new job?
• 34 say it is not unethical
• Is it ok to use office computers for personal
  shopping on the internet?
• 46 say it is ok

7
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers Fundamental
Canons

• Engineers, in the fulfillment of their
  professional duties, shall
• 1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare
  of the public.
• 2. Perform services only in areas of their
  competence.
• 3. Issue public statements only in an objective
  and truthful manner.

8
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers Fundamental
Canons

• (Continued) Engineers, in the fulfillment of
  their professional duties, shall
• 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful
  agents or trustees.
• 5. Avoid deceptive acts.
• 6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly,
  ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the
  honor, reputation, and usefulness of the
  profession.

9
Conflict Gilbane Goldreference Engineering
Ethics by Harris, et.al., Journ Engr.Educ. April
1996

• Job requires signing documents that say that
  plant discharge meets city regulations when he
  suspects it does not
• What test to use older one specified under the
  law or newer one unknown to the public?
• Is the law too restrictive or flawed in
  specifying concentration and not total levels?
• As and Pb in resulting water treatment that might
  contaminate the soil with unknown consequences
• Plant cant afford to spend money on water
  treatment
• What are the obligations of the city?
• Obligation to be a loyal employee and obligation
  to protect the health of the public apparently in
  conflict

10
Predicting the Future

• In 1960 Artificial Intelligence thinking
  machines would defeat humans at chess by 1980.
• They lost in 1996
• In 1982 Bill Gates thought 640k of main memory
  would suffice for user workstations
• In 1984 IBM believed PCs would amount to nothing

11
Later in our 21st Century

• Artificial Eyesight for Blind People
• Football Games Played Entirely by Robots
• Elimination of Night by Solar Satellite Power
• People Living in High-Orbital Mini-Earth Homes
• Domestic Robots
• Autos, Calculators, , Operated by Voice

12
A few final (for now) personal notes
13
Another view -

• To laugh and much
• To win the respect of intelligent people and the
  affection of children
• To leave the world a better place
• To know that even one life has breathed easier
  because you lived.
• This is to have succeeded.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson

14
Advice

• Treat school as your primary job,
• Be flexible,
• Listen and appreciate the views of others, be a
  good team worker,
• Dont always keep the focus on yourself,
• Admit to your mistakes, be real!
• Get excited! You are in an exciting, relevant,
  and rewarding field!!

15
Education

• A different view on the goal of education
• It is not what you know that is as important as
  what
• You have become

16
Welcome to a Great Profession

• Be Dedicated Creative
• Enjoy your work,
• Have fun!
• Rewards will be yours! ,,L,DM,F,,!