Chapter 44: The Practitioner from Within:

Revisiting the virtues

By Frances S. Grodzinsky

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“It is difficult to get from youth up a right training from virtue if one has not been brought up under right laws”

This means that youth should be educated. It is not so simple to guide him to all the theories. Still, the best way is to let him understand the theories and approach needed in order for him to grow.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to learn many things from this chapter since this would be the last chapter. Also, I want to know the title itself and the ideas that this author generated.

Review:

This chapter first discussed the character forming and action guiding theories. It is said that character forming is the most crucial since this is where a person would develop his character. A person’s decision would always lies on his attitude and not with the guiding theories. No one would first think of the theories he learned from high school, elementary and even college. He would always consider his characteristics. The character forming is more important than guiding rules since people would always rely on his character and not the guiding rules.

The biggest problem in the field of IT is that each theory is considered as separate from each other. I agree with this because in this chapter, this divides into different areas such as privacy, anonymity and etc. They are not given relation by all the authors. The result of this separation is a vast and broad theories that taking considerations as separate from each other.

This chapter also revisits the theories that were discussed in this book, cyberethics such as privacy, security, anonymity, piracy and etc. They are given different views and different ideas. I find out that even though some have similar topics which are privacy, I have seen the difference among the other philosophers. In that, I realized that it has large and broad scope. Also, I learned that there is no right and wrong since sometimes the words or belief of some of the philosophers varies or have conflict with other philosophers. There is a need to integrate all what they are saying in order for the reader to better understand their saying.

What I’ve learned:

I learned basically the virtues of practitioner. I learned what should each individual would expect for him to do in his field.

I learned the character forming and action guiding theories. I have seen their similarities. There are guiding rules in order for a person to develop his character into a good and ideal person. But still, the important thing is the character forming since you will be the one to decide what you should do in ethical situations.

Integrative questions:

1) What is Character Forming?

2) What is Action-Guiding Theories?

3) What is their difference?

4) What are their similarities?

5) What do you learn from this chapter?

Chapter 43: Ethical Issues in Business Computing

By Duncan Langford

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“Clear guidelines need to be in force”

This means that we need guidelines in order to implement it in our business.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to learn the ethical issues in business computing. Also, I want to know the sides of Duncan Langlord with this chapter.

Review:

Every business would meet at certain point some ethical problems. No matter what the size of your business is, there will be always ethical issues that you should always prioritized. For example, in level one business would have collected software that is piracy. Being a professional person, we would think if this is right to have software that is a piracy. Even though it would cost you at higher price if you would buy the original ones, still it is in our hands to consider this kind of ethical considerations.

There are two kinds of data considerations. First is the nature of data. This means what the data is and what it can give to me as a person. Second is category. This means the data is in what category. The questions that will be raised here is “Can I access this kind of data?”

The main role of computers in business is to solve the problems of the business. I agree to it since we should use its functionality in order to achieve our goal.

This chapter recognizes the use of the computer in different size of businesses. I find out that there would be common ethical considerations in different kind of business no matter how big is the size was.

Also, no matter what the size of the business, they should see the advantage of having computer system. Some don’t realized that having computer system would eventually helped them managed their business. They only think that it would create them cost which I also agree but in the long run, we can see the advantage of having it.

What I’ve learned:

I learned that in every business, there is corresponding ethical concern. This chapter is related with code of ethics since it would remind us to act as professional in the industry world.

Also, I learned the use of computer to the business. I always think that the business that could only have that computer system would be the big companies, but I realized in this chapter that it is not important.

Integrative questions:

1) What is business computing?

2) What are the essential guidelines?

3) Give examples in level one business.

4) Give examples in level two business.

5) Give examples in level three business.

By David H. Gleason

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“Satisfaction is short lived”

This means that our satisfaction does not last. One of the examples is eating. Sometimes the food satisfies to what our needs, but it would not last.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know what is subsumption ethics since this is my first time to hear this term. Also, I want to know the side of David H. Gleason regarding this issue.

Review:

This chapter talks about subsumption ethics. Subsumption ethics means the process in which the decision will be operated by a machine that would make a decision as to run or to stop it.

There are four ethical principles in order to create the framework of IT decisions. First is golden rule. The golden rule is about “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. This means that because we are being paid by the stakeholders, we should also see to it that we are also doing our job. Second is the golden mean. This is the Aristotle’s happiness and virtue which means that happiness lies on that middle or mean which is not the extreme and not the deficient. We should be informed and judged other with just. Third is karma. This means that whatever we do, there are consequences. If our action is bad, then we should expect to have bad consequence. But if our action is right, then we should expect to have a good consequence. Fourth is ethical complexity which means that the job or work by a person does not have end. We are always accountable with the product that we are creating. Paying us and accepting our work does not mean that it is the end.

The difference of computers and human is that we can make decisions. Computers would only do what the users wants him to do. We, humans can choose what is best for us. This chapter suggest that because we are human, we should do the right action and not the wrong action.

What I’ve learned:

I learned primarily the subsumption ethics. With subsumption ethics, it forced the information technology to have ethical considerations. The subsumption ethics would help us to decide the best since there is a need to help us guide in decision making.

I learned the four ethical principles. I learned how important it is in the world of information technology.

Integrative questions:

1) What is subsumption ethics?

2) What are the four ethical principle?

3) What are the axioms of subsumption ethics?

4) Can you give examples of subsumption ethics?

5) How does subsumption ethics works?

Chapter 41: No, PAPA:

Why Incomplete Codes of Ethics Are Worse than none at all

By N. Ben Fairweather

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“Privacy and Accuracy of computer data and information are issues essentially unrelated to the environmental impacts of computing”

This means that privacy and accuracy is very independent from each other. But still with the environmental impact of computing, they are becoming related.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to learn the reason why incomplete code of ethics are worse than none at all. Also, I want to know the side of N. Ben Fairweather regarding this issue.

Review:

I believed that incomplete code of ethics are worse than none at all because first of all if there is wrong or incomplete code of ethics, workers knowledge would be limited on that code of ethics. They will not think of some other issues that are really important because of that fixed code. Also, some of the code of ethics are not effective meaning the employers might followed that code of ethics wrongly and they will blame their actions sin that code.

This chapter talks about the problem of just focusing on the four areas. The four areas are privacy, accuracy, property and accessibility. With this limited four areas, we never realized that there is still more important than these four areas. Thus, I can also conclude that it is better to have no knowledge of the four areas than having it incomplete.

Sometimes, we never realized that weak points are important. We only focused on the strong points which lies on the top of the pyramid. The strong points that was mentioned in this chapter are the four areas. We are not aware of the weak points of issues that would also affect the professional ethics.

This chapter strongly argues that code of ethics is incomplete because first of all, he believed that author is not equivalent to what all the people are thinking. This means that having contributions of knowledge would make it more complete and be different from the rest of its code of ethics. Two brains are better than one.

What I’ve learned:

I realized that may be the code of ethics are not really effective since sometimes it is contributed by one person. The more people contributed in that code of ethics, the more I can say that it would be stable and accurate. There are still many weak points or other issues that were not discussed because we tend to focus on the four areas of issues which are given by the author himself.

Integrative questions:

1) Do you think that the moral code of ethics is incomplete?

2) What are the four areas of issues?

3) What is the strong and weak points?

4) What is PAPA?

5) Why it is that incomplete code of ethics are worse than none at all?

Chapter 40: Software Engineering Code of Ethics:

Approved

By Don Gotterbarn, Keith Miller, Simon Rogerson

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

Computers have a central and growing role in commerce.

This means that they are really aware of what the computers can give to them. Also, they know that computers are still growing.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know basically the software engineering code of ethics. In addition to that, I want to know the sides of the three authors regarding this issue.

Review:

This chapter recognized the importance of having code of ethics. Now the law approves the software engineering code of ethics. It means that they have seen the importance of this in professional people.

There are eight principles that were mentioned in software engineering code of ethics. One is public. It means that software engineers shall act with the respect of the public interest. Second is client and employer. It means that software engineering should be knowledgeable to act in the interest of the client and employer. This is same with “customer is always right”. Third is product which means that the product should be effective and efficient. The software engineers should make sure that the product would really helped the company to achieve its goal. Fourth is judgment. It means that software engineers should maintain what the people is thinking to him. He must be equipped with discipline and integrity in order for his co-workers to follow him. Fifth is management. This means that the supervisors or managers of the software engineers should make sure to guide that SE to become ethical and do actions which is with ethical considerations. Sixth is profession. This means that the SE should maintain that integrity in order for him to be called as professional. Seventh are colleagues. This means that the colleagues should support and not discriminate their own co-worker. Last is self. This means that software engineers should learn from what he is doing. He must learn everyday as he worked in the business or firm.

What I’ve learned:

I learned primarily the eight principles which are public, client, product, judgment, management, profession, colleagues and self. I have seen the imporatance of each principles with the software engineers. Also, I learned the importance of having code of ethics in the field of software engineers.

Integrative questions:

1) What is Software Engineering code of ethics?

2) What is the preamble of this code of ethics?

3) What are the principle of this code of ethics?

4) Is software engineering code of ethics effective?

5) Is this applicable in the Philippines? Why? Why not?

Chapter 39: Ethical Considerations for the Information Professions

By Elizabeth Buchanan

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“We are all becoming information workers”

This means that in the future we will be professional people so now, we should start to know what are our ethical concerns and what we should do in that situation.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know some of the ethical considerations for the information professions. Also, I want to know the side of Elizabeth Buchanan regarding this chapter.

Review:

This chapter talks about ethical considerations for the professional people. I believed that this chapter is very significant because this talks about the reason why there is a need to have code of ethics. In class, I learned that there are many code of ethics. This is maybe the main reason why it is important. Many businesses nowadays have seen the importance of having code of ethics and they really implement code of ethics in their business.

One of the best code of ethics that I really like is IEEE code of ethics because first of all it is very simple but yet understandable. Also, it is very concise and very specific. All information that a professional must have is written in that code of ethics.

What is code of ethics? Code of ethics is to give us a guide to be professional and especially to act as professional. There is a need for this in order to remind the professional people to act as professional. There is a big difference to act as a professional and a professional because sometimes there are professional people, but the important thing for them is money or to earn money. They are sometimes deceived by the money that will be given to them by way of using their skills or talents in order to harm other people. The code of ethics will be the one, we will reflect if we are on that situation wherein we should distinguish the right action from the wrong action.

What I’ve learned:

I learned the importance of code of ethics. I think all the businesses should have like this in order for the professional people to be reminded of their ethical mission. It is not good if a person would only recognized the money that he will gain if he would do that action, but also he should consider the ethical action.

Integrative questions:

1) What is code of ethics?

2) What should the primary role of professional person?

3) What is Robert McChesney view?

4) Give some code of ethics.

5) What are the different phases of ethical considerations?

Chapter 38: Written on the Body:

Biometrics and Identity

By Irma van der Ploeg

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“Biometrics is not just about as narrow an identity check as some authors maintain”

We thought that biometrics is very small and narrow, but actually biometrics is very large. There are many dependencies in which biometrics depend.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know more about biometrics and identity. Also, I want to know the sides of Irma van der Ploeg regarding this issue. In addition to that, I want to know if biometrics is ethical and if there are disadvantages.

Review:

Biometrics are a finger print system that would store your fingerprint in order for identity. The process is so simple. First, you will touch the device, then your finger would be validated if you are the right person who can access that information. Finger print is not only the examples of biometrics, but there is still eye reader that would see if you are that person. This is very effective since it is said that each person has different thumb print.

So the question is when does the Biometrics used? This is used in companies wherein not all people should be given access. This is a solution for security measure. Also, some companies would have biometrics in order to track down the attendance of their workers. This is very helpful since you could monitor who attended the seminar and what time he got out from that work.

I can say that some of the examples of biometrics are not effective. One of the examples that are not effective are the token based identification scheme. What other workers would do is to have that thing and scan it in the device even though that person is not physically present in that building. I think there is no used for that token based identification scheme because some employees find a way in order to make it ineffective and inefficient.

Major buyers of the biometrics are businesses since they are really using its advantage in order to achieve their goal and to monitor what their workers are doing.

What I’ve learned:

I learned that some of the biometrics are useless, but some I believed is effective device. It really depends on the person characteristics, if he would not be ethical or not. The more chapters I learned, I realized that it is not the term such as privacy that would be the problem. I believed that it is the person who would take that privacy for himself. Education is really needed in order for them to be ethical in their journey in life.

Integrative questions:

1) What is a biometric?

2) What are the examples of biometrics?

3) What are the disadvantage of having biometrics?

4) What are some problems regarding biometrics?

5) Is Biometrics effective or ineffective? Why?

Electronic Data Interchange

By Albert Vlug and Johan can der Lei

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

“It is possible to automatically anonymize an electronic sender by the introduction of a gatekeeper’s postbox”

I also believed that it is easy to be anonymous since there is the gatekeeper. Gatekeeper acts as the middle man or bridge between the sender and receiver. If I am the sender, I will just give the message by anonymous and then it is now anonymize.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know that double encryption of the data interchange. Also, I want to know what are the issues behind this double encryption. In addition to that, I want to know why they make this double encryption.

Review:

While reading the chapter, I find out that the double encryption is same with what I am thinking. The process for me is very chaotic in a sense that the way to encrypt and decrypt a text file is so difficult. Based on what I read and know, the process is first a sender would send a file that would have encryption key. In that encryption key, the receiver would use it in order to decrypt the text file. I think not all people would know how to encrypt a text file and decrypt it. It is done so that to have secured text file and not for everyone to see. But nowadays, I don’t think that it is still existing because all of us want to have convenience in receiving and sending text files. In this, we have seen the biggest improvement and shift of sending emails.

One of the examples that was discussed here is the case of recoding patient information and doctor information. They data both have anonymized in order if someone would see it, they will not recognized who is that person. Also, he would not know the illness that the patient have. The sender of the data which is said to be the gatekeeper is anonymous and also the receiver of the email. This is very difficult to understand since I don’t know how they will do this. The gatekeeper are the ones who are like the postman that would transact the information done by the sender and will be received by the receiver. Encryption key is very important in order to open the decrypted file by the person who will received that email.

What I’ve learned:

I learned that it is easy to be anonynmous, if there would be someone who would act as a middle man. I also learned that having an encryption key has long process. Now I really appreciate the value of emails because it gives me convenience to send and receive emails from my friends. In addition to that, I learned the reason why there is a decryption key for the security, so that not all can see the emails I send to a friend. It safeguards my message to a friend.

Integrative questions:

1) How will the encryption key works in double decryption?

2) What is a gatekeeper?

3) What is the process of double decryption?

4) Compare emails before and now.

5) What is the reason behind double decryption?

Chapter 36: The meaning of anonymity in an information age

By Helen Nissenbaun

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

The value of anonymity lies not in the capacity to be unnamed, but in the possibility of acting or participating while remaining out of reach.

This only means that even though a person is anonymous, still he is capable to reach the internet. That is the advantage of having anonymous because the treatment is the same with other people who give their real name.

Learning Expectation:

I really want to know if the issue about anonymity is ethical or not ethical. I also want to know if it would be a good thing or not. In addition to that, I want to learn many things from this chapter in order for me to be ethical.

Review:

This chapter first asked “should anonymity be protected in information age?” If I would answer that question, I would say that anonymity should remaien in the internet. I think the person who is anonymous is already matured enough of what he is doing. He has the right reason why he chose to be anonymous. Also, I think with the information technology, it is better for us to used its advantage such as being anonymous.

Anonymity refers to being nameless. He does not give his real name. The advantage of being anonymous is that you could see what your friends are doing without them knowing that you are monitoring them. With information technology, it helps us to be anonymous and go to different websites that has malicious content.

But this chapter says that being anonymous in information age can be ethical and can be unethical. For example, a person who wants to buy perfume in the web, I don’t think that it would be ethical for him if he would remain to be anonymous especially if he is purchasing an item in the internet. I think he is not in the right mind to be anonymous.

The question of the author is that if the information technology can make the people not protected by anonymity. I don’t think that with internet, they can make the people share who they are. I think if a certain group of people would enforced us not to be anonymous, I think many people would not already used internet. Internet is very different among the rest, since it gives us a way to be anonymous.

What I’ve learned:

I learned basically the meaning of anonymity. In different cases, it is in the advantage of people to be anonymous. Being anonymous makes it have more freedom so I think it is not good to stop the people from being anonymous. But being anonymous has its cons. I think we should be given choices to pick if we want to be anonymous or not.

Integrative questions:

1) What is the meaning of anonymity?

2) What are the disadvantages of anonymity?

3) What are the conflicts of being anonymous?

4) Is anonymity ethical or unethical?

5) What are the advantages of anonymity?

]]> http://ferlinecchua.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/chapter-36-the-meaning-of-anonymity-in-an-information-age-by-helen-nissenbaun/feed/ 0 ferlinechua http://ferlinecchua.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/chapter-35-web-security-and-privacy-an-american-perspective-by-j-lean-camp/ http://ferlinecchua.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/chapter-35-web-security-and-privacy-an-american-perspective-by-j-lean-camp/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:57:11 +0000 ferlinechua http://ferlinecchua.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/chapter-35-web-security-and-privacy-an-american-perspective-by-j-lean-camp/ ]]>

Chapter 35: Web security and privacy:

An American perspective

By J. Lean Camp

Book: Cyberethics

Library Reference: Not Applicable

Amazon: : http://www.amazon.com/Cyberethics-Morality-Cyberspace-Richard-Spinello/dp/0763737836/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238853343&sr=8-1

Quote:

Security is privacy

This quote says that in order for you to become private, you need to have a security. Security and privacy are always attached with each other.

Learning Expectation:

I expect to know web security and privacy in American perspective. Also, I want to know the sides of J. Lean Camp.

Review:

This chapter talks about security. There are many problems regarding the security issue. Some would prefer not to put his personal information in the web, but some would say that the information is secured in the net. Before, I thought that giving information in the web won’t know my identity. But now, I realized that it is safe to put your identity in the web because it is stored in a database that has security.

The problem about the security issue is the assurance that it would be safe for the peope to store their information. The example would be a company who has a computer and a server. Instead the computer will store the information to its server, the attackers find a way for the computer to store directly to the attacker’s computer.

In everyday, monitoring of our social networks, there are security issue in that routine work. We don’t realized that to log in by giving username and password is a way in order for our accounts to be secured and safe from people who wants to used our account. That is why in every software, there are log in in order to have a secured account. It is also said that we can’t solved the problem of security since it is not in our hands to command people from not doing. They still will be the one to do that right or bad actions. We can only do is to minimize the problem of security by having that log in account.

What I’ve learned:

I learned basically the security issues in the web. I learned that there are cases which we cannot solved the problem of security. The bottomline is that we cannot really remove the problems of security, but we can minimize it.

Security is important for us to have privacy. Without security, we cannot find a way to maintain our privacy. These two terms are very dependent with each other.

Integrative questions:

1) What are the legal issues and societal implications?

2) What is the first amendment says?

3) What is the second amendment says?

4) What is the third amendment says?

5) What is the fourth amendment says?