CMPT 320 D1

Implications of a Computerized Society

CMPT 320

Simon Fraser University

Fall 2018

Inactive Links are Under Construction

Course Logistics

Instructor: Oliver Schulte
Office Location: TASC 1 9021.
Office Phone: 778-782-3390.
Office Hours: Wednesday 2-3 pm
E-mail Office Hour: Friday 2-3 pm.

Teaching Assistant: Mahmoud Khademi
Email: mkhademi@sfu.ca
Office Hours: Fridays 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Office Location: ASB9810

Announcements

• Sign-up for Presentations is open

Course Resources

• Course Schedule Updated November 20, 2018
• Course Syllabus Updated Dec 12, 2018. You do not need to hand in a hard copy of the exam in class.
• Textbook website
• Installing Canvas Mobile. You need to install canvas to do the on-line quizzes and surveys.
• SFU Medical Excuse Form.
• Democracy Divided A Report from the UBC public policy forum. Covers issues around social media, privacy, data autonomy, and free speech in the Canadian context. With many policy recommendations.

Exams

• Midterm Information
  • Midterm Instructions and Grading Breakdown
  • Midterm Information Topics, Format, Logistics. Updated October 19.
• Final Exam Information
  • Slides with Final Exam Information
  • Part I Instructions and Grading Breakdown
  • Part II Instructions and Sample Discussion Questions

Lectures

• Chapter 1. Introduction.
• Chapter 2. Privacy. Updated September 26, 2018. More links in slides. Readings for which there is no link:
  • Ashley Madison Data Breach
  • Unauthorized Access to Senator Obama's passport file
  • Privacy and Facebook services 1.
  • Privacy and Facebook services 2.
• Ethical Principles. Slides for Chapter 1.4. Updated September 26, 2018.
• Chapter 3. Freedom of Speech.
• Chapter 4. Intellectual Property. More links in slides. Readings for which there is no link:
  • Legal Battles Involving Patents
  • On the Optimal Length of Copyright
  • Suing Internet Service Providers
  • Draft Law from European Parliament
  • New Policy in Draft Law
• Chapter 7. Life in the Digital Age: General issues with computer technology and social media.
  • Extra Readings
    • The Lost Art of Concentration. Stop at 'The Five More Rule'.
    • Pay Attention Please: The Survival of the Focused. By Christine Rosen, Wall Street Journal. pdf version
    • Virtual Friendships and the New Narcissism. By Christine Rosen, The New Atlantis 2007.
  • Optional Readings (not on exam)
    • Facebook Profile in the New Yorker An informative but long piece on social networks.
    • Romance in the Information Age By Christine Rosen, The New Atlantis, 2004. On how social networks and dating sites affect intimate relationships.
    • Is Google Making Us Stupid? By Nicholas Carr, the Atlantic Monthly, 2008. An influential early essay on how the internet may be changing our mental habits.
    • Is Google Making Students Stupid? Short follow-up to Carr's piece.
    • Microsoft Researcher on Microtasks
• Chapter 5. Computer Crime.
• Chapter 6. Computers in the Workplace.
  • Extra Readings.
    • Email at Work. Sample Cases.
    • Time Poverty. Review of 3 major books on time use.
• Economic Principles.
• Impact on the Economy
  • Extra Readings.
    • The Productivity Paradox
    • Some Possible Explanations for the Productivity Paradox
    • Parkinson's law Parkinson presents serious insights using satire. Some of the details are not entirely serious (e.g. the "mathematical form" of the law).
    • Historical Perspective on advertising industry

Presentations

• sign up for presentation

Papers (Term or Presentation Paper)

• Information about the Term/Presentation Paper. Writing guidelines.
• You are free to choose your own topic, though I suggest discussing it with me after class or during office hour. In case you are looking for ideas, here are two resources.
  • If you feel unsure about writing a paper, I would start with the textbook site. The book has a number of suggested essay topics, described in considerable detail. They include extensive suggestions for how to structure your paper and how to get started.
  • If you are comfortable with writing a paper but would like ideas and suggestions for topics, I have compiled a list of sample topics.