Society and Ethics in IT

Course Description:

This course covers different concepts related with sociology, and social and ethical issues related with the use of Information Technology. This course also covers social context of computing, software issues and new frontiers of computer ethics.

Course Objectives:

The basic objective of this course is to provide fundamental knowledge on the concept of sociology to understand social, cultural, economic, political and technical aspects, and knowledge of different social and ethical issues related with Information Technology.

Course Contents:

Unit 1: Introduction (4 Hrs.)

Concept and Evolution of Sociology; Applications of Sociology; Emergence of Social and Ethical Problems; Computer Ethics and Computer Ethics Education; Ethics and Professions

Unit 2: Social and cultural change (6 Hrs.)

Process; Theories of Social Change (Evolution, Functional, Conflict); Factors of Social Change (Economics, Technology, Education, Demography); Role of Media and Communication in Social and Cultural Change; Innovation and Diffusion; Resistance of Social Change; Technological Changes and its Consequences

Unit 3: Understanding development (5 Hrs.)

Definition and Approaches of Development; Indicators of Development; Features of Developing Countries; Development Planning; Role of National and International Community and State

Unit 4: Process of transformation (4 Hrs.)

Modernization, Globalization and Migration, E-governance, E-commerce

Unit 5: Ethics and Ethical Analysis (4 Hrs.)

Traditional Definition; Ethical Theories; Functional Definition of Ethics; Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making; Codes of Ethics; Reflections on Computer Ethics; Technology and Values

Unit 6: Intellectual Property Rights and Computer Technology (6 Hrs.)

Definitions; Computer Products and Services; Foundations of Intellectual Property; Ownership; Intellectual Property Crimes; Protection of Ownership Rights; Protecting Computer Software; Transnational Issues and Intellectual Property

Unit 7: Social Context of Computing (4 Hrs.)

Introduction; Digital Divide; Obstacles to Overcome the Digital Divide; ICT in the Workplace; Employee Monitoring; Workplace, Employee, Health, and Productivity

Unit 8: Software Issues (5 Hrs.)

Definitions; Causes of Software Failures; Risk; Consumer Protection; Improving Software Quality; Producer Protection

Unit 9: New Frontiers for Computer Ethics (7 Hrs.)

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics; Virtualization, Virtual Reality, and Ethics; Cyberspace and Ethics; Cyberbullying

Laboratory Works:

Text Books:

1. Alex Inkles, What is Sociology? Introduction in the Discipline & Profession, Prentice Hall of India

Reference Books:

1. Joseph Migga Kizza, Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age, 6^th Edition, Springer International Publishing, 2017
2. Michael J. Quinn, Ethics for the Information Age, 7^th Edition, Pearson Education, 2017
3. G. M. Foster, Traditional Culture & Impact of Technological Change
4. C.N.S. Rao, Principle of Sociology with an Introduction of Social Thought, S. Chand & Co. Ltd.
5. Pratley Peter, The Essence of Business Ethics, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi
6. A. Giddens & D. Mitchell, Introduction to Sociology, 3^rd Edition, W.W. Norton & company, London