198:405
Computers in Society Spring 2007
SYLLABUS - VERSION 1.1
PROFESSOR: Casimir A. Kulikowski (kulikows@cs)
ASSISTANT: TBA
SCHEDULE: T TH 6 (4:30 Ð 5:50pm) Room TBA
Course Outline: A study of computers and
society involves understanding the complex interactions between people and the
technologies they invent, develop, and use. Computers are the most advanced, ubiquitous
and generally useful tool people have created. They not only amplify human
capabilities, but increasingly have the potential of changing how we think,
work, modify life-forms (including our own), and otherwise drastically affect
interpersonal and societal relationships and the world(s) in which we live.
Week 1 (1/18, 1/20): Introduction: course organization and requirements.
People, societies and technologies. Computers as a new technology that
automates and informates. Developing info-biological social opportunities.
Short essay due and debate 1
(1/25): Essay Ð Summarize societal implications of one technology described in
the excerpts to be handed out. (1 page). Debate (1/18): ÒInfobiology will revolutionize society
by 2030Ó Give 3 to 4 arguments for and against above statement. [Readings Ð B&D: Intro &
Ch.1:1-33; P: 1-36; R: 1-10; Z: Preface & Introduction; DI: 215-264]
Week 2 (1/25, 1/27): Writing, communication, invention, and societies -
history, evolution, and computing/web prospects [DI:265-292; P: 37-64; Z:
17-57]. Discussion on the development of computer games to simulate societal
impacts of technology. Debate 2: ÒComputer simulation games are more effective
learning tools than reading and writing essaysÓ.
Week
3 (2/1, 2/3): The Society of Genes
and the Division of Labor [R: 11-50] Agents and angels [B&D:35-62]
Telecommuting, Socializing Technology, and Practice Makes Process
[B&D:63-115]. The Abstraction of Industrial Work; Automation vs.
Information. [Z: 58-96]. Temporary Miracles [P:65-94].
Week 4 (2/8, 2/10): Competition vs. cooperation: The prisoner's dilemma
[R:51-66] Computing the future and the knowledge society - building wealth and
the positivist approach to developing new human ecological niches.[T:1:45];
Mastering the electronic text: action centered vs. textual skills [Z: 98-215];
Play Presentation 1 (2/11): Piney Wood ca.2010 - human drama in management/employee relationships in the new
IT-dominated world of the cyber pulp mill?
Week 5 (2/15, 2/17): Learning in Theory and Practice [B&D:117-146];
Social Organization and Entrepreneurial Skills [T:46-98]. Thurow's hypotheses -
applying them globally and personally.. Dotcom meltdown. Telling Hawks from Doves Ð Public Goods/Private
Gifts [R:69-124];Homework: Social disequilibrium in KB society opens up
business opportunities for ITers [Due 2/20] . Are Humans Still Evolving? P:207-254]. Play presentations continued
Week 6 (2/22, 2/24): Managerial authority and smart machines [Z:221-284];
Theories of Moral Sentiments to Ecology as Religion [R:123-225]; Homework Due
2/27: Specification of a computer game of competition and coorperation aided by
computer technology
Week 7 (3/4, 3/6): Limits of hierarchy in informated organizations and
the information panopticon [Z: 285-361].Innovating organization, husbanding
knowledge and reading the background [B&D: 147-205];The power of property
and Trust [R:227:289];
Week 8 (3/11, 3/13): MID-TERM EXAM (3/11) - CLOSED BOOK/ COVERS READINGS
TO 3/6.
Re-education and Beyond
Information [B&D: 207-252] Homework Due 3/13: Summarize each Chapter in Z
in one or two paragraphs each. Do not use titles - state main theses and
conclusions, and give a brief critique.
Week 9 (3/25, 3/27): Minds and machines: Cognitive science and artificial
intelligence. Who are we, and how do we think? Intellingent agents and their
implications [Readings in SERC: John Searle: "Minds, Brains and
Science", Ch 1 and 2; Allen Newel & Herbert Simon: "Computer Science
as Empirical Enquiry: Symbols and Search, Comm of ACM, 1976; M. Minsky:
excerpts from Society of Mind]
Week 10 (4/1, 4/3): Artificial Intelligence and Social Life; Ethics and
responsibility - Tapes at Kilmer; tie to discussion of previous week.[Readings
in SERC Computer ethics and social responsibility. Generating knowledge; Z:
362-429] [Homework Due 4/3 Newell vs. Searle debate]
Week 11 (4/8, 4/10): Artificial Intelligence: Strong vs. Weak AI
Hypotheses. Computers in biology and health :Bayesian and Expert Systems in
Medicine; Bioinformatics. Designing our future.
Week 12 (4/15, 4/17): Intellectual Property in the information age; Content
Control and Privacy, Anonymity and Security [Excerpts from Dyson], Review of
computer game projects.
Week 13 (4/22, 4/24) Computers in education, governance, and defence.
Week 14 (4/29, 5/1): Our digital future - filtering, navigating,
embedding,envisioning, controlling, sharing, mentoring. Virtual reality,
artificial life. Computational and human consciousness and evolution. In class
presentation of term papers/discussion and debates/Programmed game completed.
TEXTS and READINGS:
B&D: Brown, John Seely and Duguid, Paul - The Social Life of Information, Harvard Business School Press, 2000
DE: Deutsch, Steven Ð The
Fabric of Reality,
DI: Diamond, Jarred - Guns,
Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, Norton, 1999.
P: Palumbi, Steven Ð The
Evolution Explosion, Norton, 2001.
R: Ridley, Matt - The Origins
of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation, Penguin Books,
1997.
Z: Zuboff, Shoshana - In the
Age of the Smart Machine: The Future of Work and Power. Basic Books, 1988.
Readings from a wide variety
of journals, magazines, and newspapers.
Tapes - to be seen in the
Kilmer Library basement at appointed times
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
. Five or six writing
assignments/short essays (1 to 3 pages)
. In-class debates between
teams.
. Composition of a digital
society play - critique and presentation.
. Specfication and
programming of a technological-societal game.
. Assignments: Keep a folder
to return at end of course for review.
. Mid-term examination
(Closed book; 3 parts)
. Course paper (10 pages with
oral presentation, critique, and debate)
APPOINTMENTS: By arrangement