Areas of Computer Ethics

Definition of Computer Ethics: The moral guidelines that govern the use of computers, mobile devices and information systems.

   Areas of computer ethics

• Information accuracy : One of the concern because many users access information maintained by other people or companies, such as on the Internet. Do not assume all the information on the Web is correct. Users should evaluate the value of a Web page before relying on its content. Be aware that the organization providing access to the information may not be the creator of the information.

Green computing : Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources. In broader terms, it is also defined as the study of designing, manufacturing/engineering, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that reduces their environmental impact.

    •Involves reducing the electricity and environmental waste while using a computer.

    •Society has become aware of this waste and is taking measures to combat it.

    •Some of the actions that has been taken:

     -Using energy- efficient devices that require little power when   they are not in use.

     -Buy computers with low power consumption processors and power supplies.

     -When possible, use outside air to cool the data center.

-Average computer users can employ the following general tactics to make their computing usage more green:

-Use the hibernate or sleep mode when away from a computer for extended periods.

-Use flat-screen or LCD monitors, instead of conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors.

-Buy energy efficient notebook computers, instead of desktop computers.

-Activate the power management features for controlling energy consumption.

-Turn off computers at the end of each day.

-Refill printer cartridges, rather than buying new ones.

• Codes of conduct :  Written guideline that helps determine whether a specific action is ethical/unethical or allowed/not allowed.

• Information privacy : The right of individuals and companies to deny or restrict the collection, use, and dissemination of information about them. 

     -The privacy of personal information and usually relates to personal data stored on computer systems.

    -The need to maintain information privacy is applicable to collected personal information such as medical records, financial data, criminal records, political records, business related information or website data.

       -Information privacy is also known as data privacy.

      -Today, huge databases store their data online. Much of the data is personal and confidential and should be accessible only to authorize users.

      -Many individuals and organizations, however, question whether this data really is private.That is, some companies and individuals collect and use this information without your authorization. 

• Intellectual property : Unique and original works such as ideas, inventions, literary and artistic works, processes, names and logos or, refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. Intellectual property rights are the rights to which creators are entitled for their work.

Importance of Intellectual Property

        •To protect any original work that created by individual person/ company for example, image, drawing, lyric, publishing and so on.protect any original work that created by individual person/ company for example, image, drawing, lyric, publishing and so on.

•Preserve the features and processes that make things work. This lets inventors profit from their inventions.

Intellectual Property- (patent)

            Definition: A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to        an inventor or applicant for a limited amount of time (normally 20 years from    the filing date). It is a legal document defining ownership of a particular area    of new technology.  Invention - a product or a process that provides a new          way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. The    right granted by a patent excludes all others from making, using, or selling an    invention or products made by an invented process. 

                                             Intellectual Property- (trademark)

       Definition: Trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, combination of letters or numbers, or other device that identifies and distinguishes products and services in the marketplace or a distinctive sign which identifies certain goods or services. Can be any distinctive name or logo. For the examples of well-known Trademarks are:

-Coca-Cola

-Samsung

-The Apple logo / The Nike “swoosh”. 

                        Intellectual Property- (copyright)

  Definition:

        Protection provided to the authors of “original works” and includes such things as literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual creations, both published and unpublished. Copyright is an exclusive right and gives its creator, or owner :

     -To reproduce the copyrighted work

     -To prepare derivative works

     -To distribute and sell any copies of the copyrighted work

     -To perform or display the copyrighted work publicly

-Literary works: Novels, Poems, Plays, a Piece of Paper, Newspapers, Computer Programs, Databases, Films, Musical Compositions and a Web pages.

-Artistics works: Paintings, Drawings, Photographs, Sculpture, Architecture, Advertisements, Maps and Technical Drawings