Computer Ethics & Social Implications of IT

Asia - Australia Perspective

Ajith Abraham

• Hardware (computing) evolution

• Intelligent tools

• Internet and communication evolution

• Software engineering evolution 

Information Technology Evolution

Computing evolution• Advances in VLSI technology• Clock frequency growth (30% per annum)• Average No of transistors – 40% growth per annum

Constraints ?Sequential Architectures: Speed of light, Thermodynamic

laws, Economic factorsHardware : Pipelining etc., are non-scalable and requires

sophisticated compiler technology.Solution ?

Parallel Computing – connecting computers together,

sharing the computational

task

Grand Challenge Applications (GCAs)

The scale of their resource requirements such as processing times, memory and communication needs distinguish GCAs

Examples of GCA's

     Discrete event simulations

     Virtual materials design and processing

     Finite element analysis

     Crash tests

     Turbulence simulations

Virtual material design-silicon nitride

Turbulence Simulation

Visualization of air flow over an M-6 aircraft wing.

Showing the air flow from a dashboard vent and striking the windshield of an automobile.

Grand Challenge Applications – Simulations(Source : Argonne National Laboratories)

Intelligent Systems

Internet Evolution

World Wide Web (WWW) is growing exponentially

WWW will hit almost 320 million users by 2002

Communication: Local Multi-point Distribution System

To replace existing cabling and other infrastructure.

Overcomes the traditional "last mile" problem.

Operating at between 26 and 40 gigahertz.

Duplex,Multimedia, multi-point functionality.

Gigabit Ethernet (GbE)

Fast Ethernet quickly becomes inadequate to maintain acceptable performance for a growing number of applications

Easy straightforward migration

At reasonable initial cost and overheads

No additional investment for protocol stacks or middleware

ATM

Software engineering

Web and the Internet will be the driving forces behind many software development projects in the next millennium.

Browsers

Even though the World Wide Web Consortium -W3C has rectified the weakness of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) by using the Extended Markup Language (XML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), browser makers have been far too slow to implement these standards.

Database Management Systems

Jini Technology

Major Issues

1. Intellectual Property and Computer Theft

There are no clear-cut rules for deciding what's fair

use and there are no "automatic" classes of fair uses.

a. The purpose and character of the use

b. The nature of the copyrighted work

c. The amount and substantiality of the portion

used

d. The effect of the use upon the potential

market for or value of the copyrighted work

2. Software reliabilityWhen customer and regulatory requirements demand the utmost in:

• safety• availability • timeliness• quality of service

A comprehensive approach to system design and analysis is required.

3. HackingHacking has been around for more than a century. University facilities with huge mainframe computers, like MIT's artificial intelligence lab, become staging grounds for hackers.

Hacking Issues !!

A Texas A&M professor receives death threats after a hacker logs on to his computer from off-campus and sends 20,000 racist e-mail messages using his Internet address.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics is inundated for days with hundreds of thousands of fake information requests, a hacker attack called "spamming."

Hackers claim to have broken into a Pentagon network and stolen software for a military satellite system. They threaten to sell the software to terrorists.

Hacker group L0pht, in testimony before Congress, warns it could shut down nationwide access to the Internet in less than 30 minutes. The group urges stronger security measures.

4. Data Privacy, Databases and Database Security

Example: Cryptography

As we move into an information society, the technological means for global surveillance of millions of individual people are becoming available to major governments. Cryptography has become one of the main tools for privacy, trust, access control, electronic payments, corporate security, and countless other fields.

The use of cryptography is no longer a privilege reserved for governments and highly skilled specialists, but is becoming available for everyone to make use of.

http://www.evolution.com

5. Applications of AI : Will machine replace humans??

A robot that can see….

A robot that can put your ideas into practice

Major Issues

Computers in the Workplace

Computers in the workplace covers a variety of issues including computer-based monitoring of workers, worker health and safety, worker privacy, and conditions of employment.

• Monitoring of employees - privacy rights in the workplace • Employment background checks - A guide to your rights as a jobseeker by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. • Many Companies Fail to Protect Confidential Employee Data - Electronic Monitoring in the Workplace

• Honesty and Trust • Accountability and Responsibility

Major Issues

Computers and Health

Stress, Work and Happiness

Economy—overview

Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy

Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.

Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Exports—partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, EU 10%, South Korea 9%, US 9%, NZ 8%, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)

Australia: Economy—overview

Imports—partners: EU 25%, US 23%, Japan 13%, China, NZ (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

CSIRO

The ICT sector is one of the fastest growing in the economy with a sustained growth rate approaching 12% over the last five years.

It accounts for some $50 billion in sales with annual exports close to $4 billion

Internet marketplace

An internet marketplace is a community of service providers and customers who share infrastructure and services enabling integrated service delivery across organizations (savings of around $350 million over six years in Queensland State) .

High Performance Computing and Communication High Performance Computing and Communications Center (HPCCC), to allow scientists to tackle complicated problems.

Virtual Environments Interactive, virtual environments featuring visual, auditory and haptic (touch) feedback have applications in mining, medicine, industrial design, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and further possibilities not yet imagined.

Distributed Software Architectures and Technologies Expertise in analyzing and designing complex distributed system architectures that take into account such important attributes as reliability, scalability, security, performance and transactional integrity

Spatial Data ManagementStrategic research, consultancy, development of prototype and deployed systems, and proving new applications.

Technologies for Electronic Documents Systems which can manage and exploit electronic resources

Current Research

Corporate Memory Creating systems to capture and keep documents for all time and to locate and use documents whenever necessary.

Internet Marketplaces Deployment of new and improved service delivery via the Internet by integrating information systems operated by very many business units or enterprises.

Maximum Usability Effectiveness of information systems by designing and implementing fully engaging, fit-for-purpose intuitive interfaces.

Microwave Systems for Strategic Self-Reliance To underpin the local development of advanced microwave system technologies for "dual use" civilian and military applications.

Current Research

Networking for the Information Economy Australian telecommunications costs are substantially higher than other countries. Full participation in the global information economy requires this cost disadvantage to be ameliorated. This will be achieved by designing new networks which are cost competitive and yet still provide the requisite quality of service.

Productivity Tools for Distributed Systems Engineering CSIRO aims to reduce the risks and costs of building scalable distributed information systems by inventing new methods and tools that increase design and implementation productivity.

The Cato Institute, a US think tank, has ranked Hong Kong and Singapore as the freest economies in the world.

Of the 123 countries and areas analyzed according to 2000 data, the world's 10 freest economies are Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, in that order.

Among Asian nations, Japan ranked 24th overall, Taiwan came 30th, India 73rd and mainland China 101st.

"Economic freedom advances economic growth, reduces poverty and promotes other civil and political freedoms," said Friedman. "It is also a tonic against terrorism because of the opportunity it creates.

- Nobel laureate Milton Friedman

Singapore

Singapore is blessed with a highly developed and successful free-market economy, a remarkably open and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and the fifth highest per capita GDP in the world.

Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals, and services are the main drivers of the economy.

The government promotes high levels of savings and investment through a mandatory savings scheme and spends heavily in education and technology.

As Singapore looks to a future increasingly marked by globalization, the country is positioning itself as the region's financial and high-tech hub.

Total land area682.3 sq km. Comprises one main island (604.2 sq km) and a number of islets scattered off its north-east and south.

Total Population4.13 million

Major trading partners: Malaysia, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, China and People's Republic of China

No of Internet dial-up subscribers: 1,948,007 (as at April 2002)

Major players in IT sectors

Major IT industries in Singapore include

• data storage (rigid disk drives, removable cartridge drives, tape drives, and CD-ROM drives)

• consumer electronics

• computer systems (computers, mobile computers, high- end servers, multimedia products, motherboards and related sub-assemblies)

• Semiconductors (memory chips, ASICs, microprocessors, and power ICs)

• Telecommunications (communication antennas, navigation products)

• passive components and display devices.

Major players in IT sectors

Most of the competitors in these markets are not local companies but rather multinational corporations which have been attracted to set up operations in Singapore because of the governments generous incentives.

In addition to these major multinationals there are a number of local competitors which are making their mark in the IT industry.

For example, Creative Technology is a local IT company that is the worlds largest producer of sound cards. Many feel this proves that Singapore companies are fully capable of being successful in the world market.

Strengths of IT in Singapore

The work force of SingaporeRated the best in Asia with Hong Kong and the Philippines following behind

InfrastructureQuite advanced and is continuously being upgraded. Singapore's goal is to connect every home, office and school with information technology

Nice locationIf a company would like to establish a hub for distribution or manufacturing, Singapore would be ideal because of its infrastructure and proximity to the market (especially Asia).

Strengths of IT in Singapore

Domestic Market Singapore's domestic market can be perceived as both a strength and a weakness. As a strength, computers and information technology are widely used throughout the country. This allows manufacturers to receive feedback on what customers are looking for in a product.

On the other hand, the domestic market in Singapore is quite small with a population of 2.8 million. This limits the size and growth potential of the markets and makes companies in Singapore rely on exports to sustain growth.

Investment and R&D Singapore attracts a substantial number of high-tech companies and manufacturers. This is due in part to the generous government incentives offered to foreign investors

INDIA

Indian Economy

Population 1,045,845,226 (July 2002 est.)

India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services.

About a quarter of the population is too poor to be able to afford an adequate diet.

India has large numbers of well-educated people skilled in English language; India is a major exporter of software services and software workers.

Some Strengths in IT

Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

High Performance Computing and Communications is one of the key areas of research and development in C-DAC.

• Hardware Technologies Development • System Software Development • National PARAM Supercomputing Facility • Application Development Programme • Real Time Systems

The i-Grid supercomputing facility to be unveiled on 16th December will have a high-speed processing of one teraflop at each of the location on a network basis for optimal utilization of the bandwidth by several users in diverse applications such as atmosphere and oceanography, weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, space, bio-informatics and bio-computing, besides nano-technology and nano-computing.

Some Strengths in IT

Centre for Electronics Design and Technology of India(CEDTI) is a Autonomous Scientific Society of Dept. of IT, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Govt. of India

State wide software Technology ParksStatewide technological Institutes

To address the growing demand for trained manpower in the extremely fast moving sector of Information Technology , several Training School are established which offers a variety of course options in Software technologies, Enterprise System Management, Geomatics, VLSI designs, Digital Multimedia, and other Advanced Computer Education Programes

Some Strengths in IT

Information Technology today is recognized as as an effective tool for catalyzing the economic activity in efficient governance and in developing human resource.

As the era of Digital Economy evolves, the concept of good Governance assumes a greater significance.

It is expected that in this context the Electronic Governance will result in improved transparency, speedy information dissemination, higher administrative efficiency and improved public services in sectors including transportation, education, power, health, water, security and the state administration and municipal services.

e.g. eGovernance through Regional Languages

Group Discussion Topics

1. How to Protect Intellectual Property and Fair Use ?2. Is it good to hire an Hacker?3. Will Machine Replace Humans? Some Consequences.4. Internet Market Places