====== Contemporary Issues in Computing ======

CS 19000 (crn: 54356) • Spring 2012 • Mon/Wed 3:30-4:20 • Lawson Computer Science Bldg B134

**Details:**

What does Google know about you? Is this ethical? Can fingers stalk? Who has information freedom? Who knows where you are? Why do we need cookies? Who owns the bits?

Computing and the internet have transformed society with a speed and in a scale that is rare in the history of mankind. These transformations continue to change society at rapid pace. In this course we will review issues that have arisen because of this sustained transformation and discuss what challenges lie ahead. The course will focus on how computing affects everyone, how the Internet has changed how societies and individuals function, and what the implications are for the future.

In addition, students will create a [[.:wiki:start|wiki]] for this course.

**Instructor:**

  * Robb Cutler, [[rcutler@purdue.edu]] \\ Office hours by appointment (please email)

====== Schedule ======

^ Date        ^ Topic                                                                        ^ Reading (for class)          ^ Blog Topic ^
| Mon, Feb 20 | Introductions, Course Organization, Overview                                 |                              | Initial Doc & Pre-Survey     |
| Wed, Feb 22 | The Explosion of Bits                                                        | B2B - Preface and Chapter 1  | :::                          |
| Mon, Feb 27 | Who Owns the Data? Privacy in a Digital Age                                  | B2B - Chapter 2              | Intellectual Property        |
| Wed, Feb 29 | Who Owns the Ideas? Copyrights, Patents, Open Source                         | B2B - Chapter 6              | :::                          |
| Mon, Mar 5  | Who Owns the Device? Open vs. Closed Devices                                 | TBD                          | Computers vs. Appliances     |
| Wed, Mar 7  | Who Owns the Past? The Streisand Effect, Rewriting History                   | TBD                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Mar 12 | Spring break - no class                                                      |                              |                              |
| Wed, Mar 14 | :::                                                                          | :::                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Mar 19 | On the Internet, No One Knows You're a Dog: Anonymity vs. Accountability     | TBD                          | Anonymity vs. Accountability |
| Wed, Mar 21 | On the Internet, Everyone Knows You're a Dog: We Know All About You          | TBD                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Mar 26 | Digital Democracy: Enabling the People                                       | TBD                          | Government and the Internet  |
| Wed, Mar 28 | Digital Democracy: Will Your Vote Be Counted?                                | TBD                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Apr 2  | My 754 Friends Know I Just Had a Bagel! The Implications of Social Networks  | TBD                          | Social Networking            |
| Wed, Apr 4  | 3 Gold Coins If You Come To Class Today: The Game-ification of Life          | TBD                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Apr 9  | Protecting The Bits: Cryptography and Cybersecurity                          | TBD                          | Cybersecurity                |
| Wed, Apr 11 | Do No Evil:  Is It Possible? Where Does The Future Lead?                     | TBD                          | :::                          |
| Mon, Apr 16 | Final Presentations                                                          | None                         | None                         |
| Wed, Apr 18 | Final Presentations                                                          | None                         | None                         |

====== Course Organization and Assignments ======

One take-home message of the course is that the Internet and social computing have significantly altered the way new content is generated and distributed.
To experience this first-hand, students will use several collaborative technologies ([[https://docs.google.com/|Google Docs]], [[http://www.blogger.com/|Blogger]], and [[http://www.dokuwiki.org/|DokuWiki]]) for completing homework assignments.

The course work consists of three components:
  - Class attendance and participation: required. (30% of grade) 
  - Weekly Blogging and Online Discussion: writing summaries responding to discussion topics (50% of grade)
    - A topic will be posted Monday night in Blackboard.
    - You write 4-5 paragraphs (in Blackboard), taking a position pro or con, and supporting your position with a coherent argument and at least three references (use MLA style citations).  Due Friday, 11:59pm.
    - You write a 1-2 paragraph rebuttal on each of two student blogs, critically analyzing and refuting all or part of their arguments.  Due Sunday, 11:59pm.
  - Final essay and presentation: 2-page essay and 15 minute summary presentation on a relevant topic (20% of grade)

B2B is the free book Blown to Bits: [[http://www.bitsbook.com/thebook/|Blown to Bits]].  Other reading will be assigned as the course progresses.