CSE 1111 Notes for Week 2

1/23/03

 

 

1.      CUP:  In class today, sign up for the proficiency test on Word.  Then complete the test this week if at all possible.   All tests will be in 124 NH unless otherwise indicated.  Possible times this week to do the test which takes about 20 minutes:

    Fri 1/24            1:00 – 5:00  (in connection w/ open lab)  

    Sat 1/25      12:00 – 3:00  (in connection w/ open lab)

    Mon 1/27            4:00 – 5:00

    Tues 1/28            5:30 – 6:30 and 7:00 – 10:00  (in connection w/ open lab)

    Fri 1/31            1:00 – 5:00  (in connection w/ open lab)  

    Sat 2/1            12:00 – 3:00  (in connection w/ open lab)

    Tues 2/4             7:00 – 10:00  (in connection w/ open lab)

 

Please sign up for the time which seems most suitable for you today.   If you have to change the time, you may go at any other time without making prior arrangements, but those who have signed up have first claim on the machines and materials.            Check the class web site for  possible updates to the schedule.

 

2.  The topic for this week: Case Study in Borrowing Computer Code

 

From Deborah Johnson’s Computer Ethics 2nd edition, page 2 (written by Dave Colantonio).

Jean, a systems programmer, is trying to write a new tutorial for use of her company’s computer system, which will be used in other office branches nationwide.  Now, after months of tedious programming, Jean has found herself stuck on several parts of the program.   Her manager, not recognizing the complexity of the program, wants the job completed within the next few days.   Jean does not know how to solve the problems, but she realizes that there are several pieces of commercial software that handle similar problems quite nicely.  Upon analysis of two of these programs, she sees two areas of code that could be directly incorporated into her own program.  She uses these segments of code.  The problems she was having are solved.  She completes the program and turns it in a day ahead of time. 

 

Questions: 

1)   What is wrong, if anything, with the behavior described in the scenario?

2)      Can you think of analogies with situations not involving computers that reveal the moral character of the behavior?

3)      If you think any of this behavior should be discouraged or prevented, what rules, laws or conventions might achieve this?

You are to put your answers to these questions in a text file or a Word file, and save that file for later use.   In fact, call the file for this week Questions_Week2 and name the file you created last week Questions_Week1.