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ITGS STRAND 1: Social and Ethical
Significance Definitions
- 1.1 Reliability and integrity
- Reliability - the ability of software and hardware to work without failure. At
first glance the potential social impacts of unreliable hardware and software
seem obvious - but these can be orders of magnitude greater when the
systems involved are safety critical systems - those that involve potential
injury or loss of life.
- Integrity - how 'correct' data within a system is. While errors in data may seem minor, their impacts
can be significant when major decisions are based upon them. Equally, seemingly correct data can
become incorrect if, for example, it becomes outdated.
- Integrity - how 'correct' data within a system is. While errors in data may seem minor, their impacts
can be significant when major decisions are based upon them. Equally, seemingly correct data can
become incorrect if, for example, it becomes outdated.
- Reliability - the ability of software and hardware to work without failure. At
first glance the potential social impacts of unreliable hardware and software
seem obvious - but these can be orders of magnitude greater when the
systems involved are safety critical systems - those that involve potential
injury or loss of life.
- 1.3 Privacy and anonymity
- Privacy is the ability of individuals and groups to determine for themselves when, how and to
what extent information about themselves is shared with others. At its extreme, privacy
becomes anonymity when, for instance, a person uses it to conceal his or her true identity in
order to cyber-bully someone else. Conversely, excessive privacy could also conceal the
perpetrators of criminal, terrorist or computer hacking acts from law enforcement agencies.
- Privacy is the ability of individuals and groups to determine for themselves when, how and to
what extent information about themselves is shared with others. At its extreme, privacy
becomes anonymity when, for instance, a person uses it to conceal his or her true identity in
order to cyber-bully someone else. Conversely, excessive privacy could also conceal the
perpetrators of criminal, terrorist or computer hacking acts from law enforcement agencies.
- 1.2 Security
- Security refers to the protection of hardware, software, machines and networks from unauthorized
access. Security measures include restricted access to machines and networks for certain employees
or to prevent access by hackers. The degree of security of information systems largely determines
society’s confidence in the information contained in the systems.
- Security refers to the protection of hardware, software, machines and networks from unauthorized
access. Security measures include restricted access to machines and networks for certain employees
or to prevent access by hackers. The degree of security of information systems largely determines
society’s confidence in the information contained in the systems.
- 1.4 Intellectual property
- Intellectual property includes ideas, discoveries, writings, works of art, software, collections and
presentations of data. Copyright, trademarks and patents exist to protect intellectual property.
However, the easy and accurate duplication methods made available through IT can undermine such
protection.
- Intellectual property includes ideas, discoveries, writings, works of art, software, collections and
presentations of data. Copyright, trademarks and patents exist to protect intellectual property.
However, the easy and accurate duplication methods made available through IT can undermine such
protection.
- 1.5 Authenticity
- Authenticity means establishing a user’s identity beyond reasonable doubt. Authenticating the user
is crucial in many scenarios, particularly in business and legal matters. A simple example of
authentication is a user login to a network. A more advanced example would be the use of encrypted
digital signatures in a business transaction or the use of watermarking on digital photographs.
- Authenticity means establishing a user’s identity beyond reasonable doubt. Authenticating the user
is crucial in many scenarios, particularly in business and legal matters. A simple example of
authentication is a user login to a network. A more advanced example would be the use of encrypted
digital signatures in a business transaction or the use of watermarking on digital photographs.
- 1.6 The digital divide and equality
of access
- The growth of the use of IT systems has led to disparities in the use of, and access to, information
technologies. Disparities exist not only internationally between countries, but also within countries
between different socio-economic groups as well as within what may appear to be relatively
homogenous groups. This may lead to groups or individuals without access to IT being
disadvantaged. For example, while telelearning may bring previously unavailable opportunities to
everyone’s doorstep, factors such as the cost and availability of hardware, software or access to the
internet may create a “digital divide”.
- The growth of the use of IT systems has led to disparities in the use of, and access to, information
technologies. Disparities exist not only internationally between countries, but also within countries
between different socio-economic groups as well as within what may appear to be relatively
homogenous groups. This may lead to groups or individuals without access to IT being
disadvantaged. For example, while telelearning may bring previously unavailable opportunities to
everyone’s doorstep, factors such as the cost and availability of hardware, software or access to the
internet may create a “digital divide”.
- 1.7 Surveillance
- Surveillance is the use of IT to monitor the actions of people. For example, monitoring may be used
to track, record and assess employees’ performance. It can be used to support claims for promotion
or to ensure that employees follow the organization’s internet policy appropriately.
- Surveillance is the use of IT to monitor the actions of people. For example, monitoring may be used
to track, record and assess employees’ performance. It can be used to support claims for promotion
or to ensure that employees follow the organization’s internet policy appropriately.
- 1.8 Globalization and cultural diversity
- Globalization means the diminishing importance of geographical, political, economic and cultural
boundaries. IT has played a major role in reducing these boundaries. For example, any dramatic
event anywhere in the world can be broadcast almost instantly by television or on the internet.
However, the new “global village” may lead to the extinction of minority languages.
- Globalization means the diminishing importance of geographical, political, economic and cultural
boundaries. IT has played a major role in reducing these boundaries. For example, any dramatic
event anywhere in the world can be broadcast almost instantly by television or on the internet.
However, the new “global village” may lead to the extinction of minority languages.
- 1.9 Policies
- Policies are enforceable measures intended to promote appropriate and discourage inappropriate
use relating to information technologies. They can be developed by governments, businesses, private
groups or individuals. They normally consist of rules governing access to, or use of, information,
hardware, software and networks. For example, a school policy on the use of IT would consist of each
user signing an acceptableuse policy. It would also address unlawful access to the network through,
for example, identity theft or using hacking software, and how these transgressions would be
treated. Many websites also require users to agree to specific policies before allowing access to their
services. Policies also affect the exchange of information, for example, by making it subject to
copyright laws and raising people’s awareness of plagiarism. In general, policies can promote or
restrict access, guide behaviour, require the fulfillment of certain conditions prior to or during use, or
need to
- Policies are enforceable measures intended to promote appropriate and discourage inappropriate
use relating to information technologies. They can be developed by governments, businesses, private
groups or individuals. They normally consist of rules governing access to, or use of, information,
hardware, software and networks. For example, a school policy on the use of IT would consist of each
user signing an acceptableuse policy. It would also address unlawful access to the network through,
for example, identity theft or using hacking software, and how these transgressions would be
treated. Many websites also require users to agree to specific policies before allowing access to their
services. Policies also affect the exchange of information, for example, by making it subject to
copyright laws and raising people’s awareness of plagiarism. In general, policies can promote or
restrict access, guide behaviour, require the fulfillment of certain conditions prior to or during use, or
need to
- 1.10 Standards and protocols
- Standards and protocols are technical rules and conventions that enable compatibility and therefore
facilitate communication or interoperability between different IT systems and their components.
They might govern the design and use of hardware, software and information. For example, the
communication protocols used on the internet, the ASCII representations for characters, or the
design of the printer port on a personal computer are all governed by standards.
- Standards and protocols are technical rules and conventions that enable compatibility and therefore
facilitate communication or interoperability between different IT systems and their components.
They might govern the design and use of hardware, software and information. For example, the
communication protocols used on the internet, the ASCII representations for characters, or the
design of the printer port on a personal computer are all governed by standards.
- 1.11 People and machines
- The use of IT systems brings significant advantages, for instance in ease of use, being available 24/7,
or through its use rather than exposing humans to a potentially hazardous environment. However,
this can raise concerns about the rate at which technology is being introduced and issues that may
arise from insufficient testing in critical situations such as air traffic control. The ultimate fear of
many people is that future systems will be programmed to make decisions that would be better
taken by humans, such as the decision to deploy nuclear weapons. There are also social impacts such
as internet addiction, where people feel that they can never get away from IT and are trapped on a
“digital treadmill”.
- The use of IT systems brings significant advantages, for instance in ease of use, being available 24/7,
or through its use rather than exposing humans to a potentially hazardous environment. However,
this can raise concerns about the rate at which technology is being introduced and issues that may
arise from insufficient testing in critical situations such as air traffic control. The ultimate fear of
many people is that future systems will be programmed to make decisions that would be better
taken by humans, such as the decision to deploy nuclear weapons. There are also social impacts such
as internet addiction, where people feel that they can never get away from IT and are trapped on a
“digital treadmill”.
- 1.12 Digital citizenship
- Digital citizenship can be defined as appropriate behaviour that represents the responsible, ethical
and legal approach that individuals take in any situation with respect to the use of IT. Digital
citizenship permeates, in one way or another, all of the preceding social and ethical considerations.
Other specific social and ethical considerations Other social and ethical considerations may emerge
during different scenarios discussed in class. These may be related to changes in attitudes towards
the use of IT systems, or new developments in IT such as social networking or e-assessment.
- Digital citizenship can be defined as appropriate behaviour that represents the responsible, ethical
and legal approach that individuals take in any situation with respect to the use of IT. Digital
citizenship permeates, in one way or another, all of the preceding social and ethical considerations.
Other specific social and ethical considerations Other social and ethical considerations may emerge
during different scenarios discussed in class. These may be related to changes in attitudes towards
the use of IT systems, or new developments in IT such as social networking or e-assessment.
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