Computer Technology and Human Values
Sociology 4071-3: Technology and Modernization:
Computer Technology
and Human Values
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30
September 3 - December 3, 1996
This course is for people interested in humanities, social science,
engineering, and computer science. Students will be encouraged to
draw on their unique backgrounds to develop a new appreciation of how
social and ethical values are shaping, and being shaped by advanced
technology.
A wide variety of viewpoints will enhance the ability of the class to
understand those human values that are likely to be most important and
helpful during a time of rapid social change.
We will take a critical look at advanced computer technology,
including the Internet and the World Wide Web. Case studies of real
ethical conflicts that have arisen around computers will be studied,
so that students can begin to refine their ethical perspective. In
addition, we will study issues of individual autonomy and computer
control. Subject areas we will consider include:
- electronic communities on the "Information Highway"
- privacy and control of personal information
- information access and intellectual property
- protection of children and censorship
- risk and responsibility
- gender issues
- computers and human autonomy
About the instructor |
List of readings |
Comments on the course from previous
years |
One excellent
term
paper from the course
Some comments from course evaluations
- "Excellent class. I hope it is continued! Dr. Moninger was well
prepared, presented well, and was attentive to class and individual
needs."
- "Excellent course! Continue to offer it, with Bill as
instructor."
- "I will recommend this course to many others. I found it one of the
most interesting courses taken at CU."
- "WONDERFUL course!! Learned a lot, had a good time, gained respect
for classmates and instructor."
- "Readings were very interesting."
- The most effective aspect of the course were:
- the "diversity of students in age, profession, sex,
minority."
- "the rich diversity of the information presented and the opportunity
to share viewpoints with others."
- "passion and commitment of the instructor toward learning and
exploring the material."
Some term paper topics from the 1994 course:
- "Caution Children Present" (explored children and the Internet)
- "Privacy vs. the US Government"
- "Privacy on the Electronic Frontier?"
- "Computers as a tool for Developing Nations"
- "The Global Village"
- "Virtual Communities"
- "The Role of Local Police in the Age of Information"
- "Women in Cyberspace"
- "An Apple in every Pot? The diffusion of computers and network access
into American Households"
- "Problems with Constant Employee Monitoring"
- "Warfare and the Machine"
- "Charging for Internet Use"