What's New

• January 17, 2005 - The VAST 200-02 Website is located at http://foghorn.cadlab.lafayette.edu/vast200/index.html.
  Visit the site for lecture notes, course handouts, and links to reading assignments.

Instructor

Professor John A. Nestor
Office: 426 Acopian Engineering Center (AEC)
Office Hours: TBA (and by appointment)
Phone: (610) 330-5411
Email: nestorj

Schedule

Lectures	MW 11:10-11:50	AEC 325
	F 11:10-12:50

Course Description

"May you live in interesting times"
                         -- Mythical "Ancient Chinese Curse"; origin unknown

Since its invention just over 50 years ago, the stored program computer has had an enormous impact on society.  Designed to peform calculations and to store, retrieve, and manipulate information, the computer has become ubiquitous throughout society.  Exponential improvments in the underlying technology have made possible applications which were science fiction just a few years ago.  Thanks to computers and the internet, technologies for communication, control, and entertainment are converging.  While there are many positive aspects of this trend, many concerns have arisen involving privacy, reliability and safety, freedom of speech, intellectual property, the impact of technology on jobs and work, and others.

The goal of this course is to explore the interaction between computers and society by exploring some of these concerns while considering three questions:

1. Where we have been? - how did the technology evolve, and how did it change society?
2. Where are we now? - what are the current capabilities and limiations of the technology, and what questions and concerns do this raise about society?
3. Where are we going? - what are the prospects for future improvements in technology, and what new questions and concerns will arise as a result?
   

Computers are often depicted in popular culture as an impersonal, almost alien force.  A common theme is that humans have (or will) become the victims of uncaring or even malicious machines.  However, it is important to remember that computer technology and its application is produced by and for humans.  The responsibility for the consequences of the social, legal, and ethical issues that arise falls both on the developers of the technology and on society at large, which should be able to make informed decisions.  We will consider the issues discussed in this class from both of these views.

Textbooks

1. S. Baase, A Gift of Fire: Social, legal, and ethical issues for computers and the Internet, 2nd. ed.  Prentice-Hall, 2003.
2. V. Vinge and J. Frenkel, True Names and the opening of the cyperspace frontier, Tor, 2001.
3. S, Williams, Arguing AI: the Battle for 21st century science, AtRandom, 2002.
   
4. Course Notes and Handouts
5. Additional readings to be distributed via e-mail or the web.
   

Grading 

Active participation in classroom discussions	15%
Papers	50%
Oral Presentations	10%
Mid-Term Exam (date TBA)	25%

NOTE: Makeups for missed exams will be given only if (1) there is a valid, documented reason that the exam cannot be taken at the scheduled time and (2) I am notified IN ADVANCE.

Writing Assignments

Other Policy Notes

• Because this is a discussion course, your attendance and active participation are required.  Missing more than five classes for any reason will lower your grade in the course by one letter grade.
• Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to College policy.  College policies are clearly detailed in the "Student Handbook".  All written work must include appropriate references to the sources you consult and any information, ideas, or words that you take from another source; any direct quotation must be placed within quotation marks.
• E-mail will be used to communicate information about the course.  You are expected to check your email at least daily.
• If class is cancelled due to weather or any other reason, I will send an announcement by e-mail and leave a message on my voicemail (x5411).