During the 1980s, there was a total fear that computers had a mind of their own. Some believed that they could take over the world. We saw this in the clip that we watched in class where they actually believed that the computer could start World War III. However, it is important to see that they are learning that you can basically train/ teach computers to do almost anything. Some of this fear is expressed in James Moor’s article about computer ethics. I think that a lot of what he wrote is still relevant, yet at times you can tell that it was written in 1985. We still need to think about how much we should trust computers to do things for us. I like the point that he makes about computers creating new methods of communication. This also creates an issue that we have talked about a few times in lecture. Personal contact is taken out of the picture because it is easier to email, instant message, and text people. New methods created by computers make our lives much easier; however, we lose face- to- face contact. Few people stop and think about how easy our generation has it with all of the technology in front of us to do a research project. In addition, registering for classes in person would be a complete nightmare and waste of time.
I found Moor’s section about ‘the invisibility factor’ to be the most interesting and prominent to our lives in 2009. He gives the example of a programmer who realized he/she could steal excess interest from a bank and transfer it to his/her own account. The excess interest could be a minute amount, but could add up over time. People could also create a program to steal someone’s credit card number off of an online shopping website. This part of the article made me think of Bernie Madoff. Obviously, his lack of proper ethics/ morals goes far beyond the examples that Moor discusses. The problem with invisible programs occurs when even programmers can not catch them. Moor finishes by saying how we like a good amount of the invisibility with computers, but that this is what makes us vulnerable. Today, I would imagine that there are more people that are trained to catch harmful invisible computer programs. Sometimes I agree and think we do put too much trust in computers. I was curious what others thought about this. I was thinking about whether or not an invisible program could have prevented Madoff from scamming so many people. On the other side, I think that part of the reason he got away with it because such a program could be consider an invasion of privacy.
"Few people stop and think about how easy our generation has it with all of the technology in front of us..."
ReplyDelete--> Your post is interesting and I agree with you. But I think we could interchange "easy" with "convenient AT TIMES", because their are costs to the widely available and often times highly experimental technology. And as advances are made the complexity increases even as inventors, mechanics, and technologists attempt to make the devices, machines, etc user friendly, not all attempts are successful. What do you think?
"The problem with invisible programs occurs when even programmers can not catch them."
--> I feel like continual/ongoing training, certification, and education solves this problem. Professional programmers (although they do and can and are human) should not miss hidden programs, spam, or attacks, especially since many of the attacks came from non-professionals (i.e. students like in the Text).
"I was thinking about whether or not an invisible program could have prevented Madoff from scamming so many people. On the other side, I think that part of the reason he got away with it because such a program could be consider an invasion of privacy.?
--> I feel like the limited discourse on morality has a lot to do with this happening. Madoff was trusted because he came was qualified. His company and clients, because of his expertise, trusted him. Often times I think that we value someone's ability, expertise, and experience more than their character. Anyway, a necessary action was avoided because of legality and morality, that could have prevented this. We should weigh our options. Which would have been better, to, on a confidential and restricted basis, invade individual's privacy for their protection or to allow individuals to become victimized.
I agree that we are losing face-to-face contact with one another due to the internet phenomenon. I think that as long as you are being honest with who you are in these second lives and only being a part of them in moderation it will not negatively effect your life. I agree with Camdon because although it seems like technology just makes things easy, however I think a better word would be convenient. Because with advances in technology come challenges, therefore, although its convenient it is not necessarily easy.
ReplyDeleteEasier methods to hack, new ways to plant a virus, and faster ways to steal someone’s identity are inevitable. The good cannot come without the bad, though. People will be able to do harmful things to computers, but that means others should be trying to find ways to help protect computers. It’s not trusting the computers we need to worry about, it’s the people. Computers were made to improve lives and they have led to numerous greater advances. A few of these include computers providing a way to engineer new drugs, allowing families who are continents apart communicate through webcams, and increasing educational benefits among high schools, colleges, and universities. People should be more concerned about trying to stop those who are harming us through computers rather than the computers themselves creating a “WWIII” and destroying the world.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with O.Patel. Computers are so technologically savvy that many are afraid of what they can do, but I think we forget about the great stuff they have done. Their is no way in preventing every harmful thing a computer does and to be honest I worry about the power people have more then the computer. I don't know how we could prevent either of the two; people or technology, but we have more control over people in our society then technology so I agree that the emphasis needs to be put on people doing harmful things to computers.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for us to realize it is not the computer that is the enemy- its the users. Computers do not invent hacker programs, viruses or scams- they are simply the medium through which people carry out such actions. Similar to the above posts, I agree that computers have made incredible advances and opened doors previously unforeseen. The time spent on making such inventions should be equally invested in blocking negative effects or programs. As Camdon mentioned, I find the comment on our easy our generation has it to be two-fold. On the one hand social networks such as facebook have made it incredibly easy for me to keep in touch with childhood friends and classmates. Conversely, it is very freighting to think that employers and strangers can access information I believe to be set to private. Often the knowledge of the general population does not necessarily equal that of corporate America in regards to internet advances. Such examples as the aforementioned invisibility factor are perfect representations of this concept.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy how easy things can be done with the technology we have today and how much closer technology can bring us as well. If it weren't for email, I would not be able to have kept in such good contact with my sister while she was in Peru for a year; but with all things you have to think of the disadvantages as well. I would not know what to do without the technology we have today, but I absolutely hate the vices it brings. Computer technology is amazing, but the devious always seem to be one step ahead. I fear all of the vulnerabilities it brings, such as hackers and viruses, worms etc. I fear that my bank accounts are out in the open for all to take in and my 40 page term paper will be erased by a virus. I feel that person-to-person contact is compromised as well.
ReplyDelete