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Gift of Fire, A: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet, 2/E
Sara Baase, San Diego State University

ISBN-10: 0130082155
ISBN-13: 9780130082152

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2003
Format: Paper; 464 pp
Published: 06/05/2002

For courses in Computer Ethics and Computers & Society.

This text explores social, legal, philosophical, ethical, political, constitutional and economic implications of computing from a computer scientist's point of view. It covers the issues students will face both as members of a technological society and as professionals in computer-related fields. One of its goals is to develop computer professionals who understand the implications of what they create and how it fits into society at large—another is to help students outside of computer science understand the issues and controversies generated by computers and the Internet.

NEW - Extensively updated material—Free speech issues on the Internet (censorship, spam, anonymity); privacy threats on the Web; search and surveillance technologies and their impact on the Fourth Amendment; government interception of telephone calls and e-mail (Carnivore, Echelon); intellectual property in cyberspace; computer crime (hacking, hacktivism, online fraud).
- Explores new and emerging issues and controversies and presents students with many arguments and viewpoints.

NEW - Recent significant laws, court cases and decisions—Includes the Napster case, recent Web censorship attempts, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
- Enables students to apply arguments to actual cases and understand controversies in a concrete context.

NEW - Added boxed information.
- Highlights and describes examples, cases, and issues.

NEW - Added and updated exercises—Now totaling approximately 300.
- Engages students in lively class discussion or individual presentations.

Focus on solutions to computer-related problems from technology and from markets, management, and law.
- Encourages students to consider solutions from varied sources.

Discussion of how computers change established institutions and conventions.
- Helps students understand how organizations and governments adapt to and attempt to control computer technology.

Comparison of the risks and problems of computer technology with other technologies and non-computerized alternatives.
- Encourages students to maintain perspective and to appreciate the benefits of computing.

Analysis of ethical issues facing today's computer professionals.
- Alerts students to the special types of problems relevant to being a responsible professional in the computer science field.

Extensively updated material—Free speech issues on the Internet (censorship, spam, anonymity); privacy threats on the Web; search and surveillance technologies and their impact on the Fourth Amendment; government interception of telephone calls and e-mail (Carnivore, Echelon); intellectual property in cyberspace; computer crime (hacking, hacktivism, online fraud).
- Explores new and emerging issues and controversies and presents students with many arguments and viewpoints.

Recent significant laws, court cases and decisions—Includes the Napster case, recent Web censorship attempts, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
- Enables students to apply arguments to actual cases and understand controversies in a concrete context.

Added boxed information.
- Highlights and describes examples, cases, and issues.

Added and updated exercises—Now totaling approximately 300.
- Engages students in lively class discussion or individual presentations.

1. Unwrapping the Gift.

2. Privacy and Personal Information.

3. Encryption and Interception of Communications.

4. Can We Trust the Computer?

5. Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace.

6. Intellectual Property.

7. Computer Crime.

8. Computers and Work.

9. Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers.

10. Professional Ethics and Responsibilities.

Epilogue.

Appendix A: The Software Engineering Code and the ACM Code.

Ethics in Engineering (General Engineering)
Computer Ethics (Computer Science)

Gift of Fire, A: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet, 3/E
Baase
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 528 pp | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 0136008488 | ISBN-13: 9780136008484
Suggested retail price: $85.00 Net price: $63.75 (What's this?)Brief Description

In this timely revision of a best-seller, Baase explores the social, legal, philosophical, ethical, political, constitutional, and economic implications of computing and the controversies they raise. With a computer scientist's perspective, and with historical context for many issues, she covers the issues students will face both as members of a technological society and as professionals in computer-related fields. A primary goal is to develop computer professionals who understand the implications of what they create and how it fits into society at large. This text is ideal for courses in Computer Ethics and Copmputers and Society. Updated throughout, the Third Edition removes outdated material and adds many new topics.

Supplements:

-Visit the Author Website to access instructor materials including a lecture outline, assignments, class discussion questions and more.

- To download additional password protected instructor files, including Power Point Slides, Test Bank, and other class materials, click on the 'Resources' tab.

"The text comes alive with vignettes, historical asides, anecdotes, and just-right quotations garnered from the scholarly, trade; popular, and classical literatures... The writing is elegant and graceful." — Joseph F. Fulda, book review in Ethics and Information Technology

"The variety of topics and the authoritative nature of the text are a big plus. The author's style is excellent. The case studies are excellent. The exercises are a major selling point." — Professor Stephen P. Leach, Florida State University

"Baase's text eclipses the rest. Students have told me that they intend to keep the text as a reference, for when they start work. Working students have even taken their copy to staff rooms to share with employees." — Sherry Clark, Oregon State University

Sara Baase is Professor Emeritus with the Department of Computer Science, San Diego State University, where she won awards for outstanding teaching. Her textbooks in computer science have been translated into several languages. Dr. Baase received her doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

A Gift of Fire covers the challenges and implications of computer technology—and the responsibilities of professionals who design and use computer systems. Topics include privacy (data-collection and surveillance technologies and issues), freedom of speech, computer failures, intellectual property, hacking, critics of technology, and more.

Updated with new material throughout, this text continues to provide a comprehensive look at new issues. Intended for students preparing for careers in computer science and students in other fields interested in issues that arise from computer technology, this book can be used in both introductory and advanced classes about computing or technology.

Recurring Themes

Controversies and alternative points of view such as privacy versus law enforcement, freedom of speech versus restricting content on the Internet, intellectual property protection versus access to information, and banning tools and technologies that have beneficial and harmful impacts.

Perspectives: Comparing risks and problems of computer technology with other technologies, non-computerized alternatives, and benefits of computers.

Solutions to computer-related problem from technology, the market, management, education, and law.

Instructional Tools

Hundreds of exercises, many based on real cases, many, suitable for class discussion or student presentations.

Instructor's Manual at http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire.

Companion Website - Baase, 2/E
Baase
©2003 | Prentice Hall | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0130384763 | ISBN-13: 9780130384768

Instructors Resource (download only), 2/E
Baase
©2003 | Prentice Hall | On-line Supplement; 1 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0131406434 | ISBN-13: 9780131406438
View Downloadable Files

Companion Website - Baase, 2/E
Baase
©2003 | Prentice Hall | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0130384763 | ISBN-13: 9780130384768

For the General Engineering Discipline

ESource Access Pack
Esource
©2001 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0130904007 | ISBN-13: 9780130904003
Suggested retail price: $0.00Net price: $0.00 (What's this?)

Companion Website - Baase, 2/E
Baase
©2003 | Prentice Hall | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0130384763 | ISBN-13: 9780130384768

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