ICS 131: Social Analysis of Computerization

Professor Bill Tomlinson

Winter 2005

Key Ideas

• Technical content operates in a

non-technical context.

• Social context is central to technology.

Not as Precise

• But arguably more important.

• Not helpful, responsible or necessary to dismiss it.

Opportunity

• Understanding and working with the social/non-technical context can make your work better.

This Course

• Should give you a chance to recognize situations where social/non-technical issues arise.

• Should help you see all sides of these issues.

• Should help you use this understanding to make better work.

Ground Rules

Respect

• Discussion based

• Differing opinions

• Mutual

Attendance

• Mandatory

Attention

• 8 hours of sleep

Syllabus

• Hand out.

Instructors

• Professor Bill Tomlinson

• TA: Justin Harris

Meeting Times

• Lectures: MWF, 3:00-3:50pm, ELH 100

• Sections;

M 4:00-4:50pm

W 4:00-4:50pm

F 1:00-1:50pm

Discussion Sections

• Week by week.

• No sections this week.

Add/Drop

• Deadline to drop: Friday, January 14

Academic Honesty

• http://www.editor.uci.edu/catalogue/appx/appx.2.htm

Cell Phones, Notebook Computers, etc.

• Please turn off cell phones.

• Please do not browse the web, email, IM, etc.

Grading

• Short assignments: 20%

• Long assignments: 40%

• Class participation/quizzes: 10%

• Midterm: 10%

• Final: 20%

Basis of Lecture/Course Materials

• 1-2 readings per lecture.

• Available online (web site, library site).

Short Assignments

• 2 paragraph response to each reading.

• Completed before the class when the reading will be discussed.

• Turned in every 1-2 weeks.

Long Assignments

• 2 papers.

• 1500-2000 words each.

Class Participation

• 20 minutes at the end of each class.

• Randomly chosen from the class.

Quizzes

• In class, from time to time.

Midterm and final

• One midterm examination.

• One final examination.

• Will cover material from both lectures and readings.

Notebooks

• Keep an archive of all of your written assignments.

Note

• These are guidelines intended to help students plan their work in this course. However, the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus over the course of the quarter.

Course Outline

• Four main topics:– Social Aspects of Technical Questions– Computing and the Law– Computers, Work and Learning– Computing and Everyday Life

Readings

• Posted on course web site or library web site.

Strunk and White

• Useful reference for good writing style.

Questions?

Questions Later

• Syllabus - there’s a lot in there.

• Web site - updated.

• TA: Justin Harris.

• Me!

Next class

• Friday: Identifying and analyzing social issues

Assignment

• Reading:

Simon, H., Sciences of the Artificial, 2nd Edition, The MIT Press, Cambridge, 1986, Chapter 6, pp. 160-191.

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~redmiles/ics131-FQ04/week01Basis/Simon81Chapter6.pdf

• …and sleep!

Introduce Justin Harris

Thanks!

• I hope you find this quarter interesting.

In building later classes, every week announce whether or not

there will be sections.

Readings

Picard

Breazeal?

Reeves & Nass

Weizenbaum

Lecture 2

Background

• Biology - undergrad

• Animation - MFA

• Media Arts & Sciences - PhD

• Interdisciplinary - Informatics & Drama

100 Statements that I believe in:Computers (C.) can help people

be more productive.C. can help people stay in touch

with each other.The way in which C’s help

people stay in touch changes the form of their relationships.

An OS changes the way in which people expect to use a c.

Software specifies the ways in which people can use c.

Software can be used in ways not intended by the coder.

The process of adoption of technology can change how a

piece of technology integrates w/ society.

Software can enable people to break the law.

Software can prevent people from doing certain things that

break the law.Software can prevent people

from doing things that are not against the law.

Software enables faster and more fluid interactions (exchange of

info).Certain laws were designed for

slower and more viscous kinds of interactions.

People are willing to form social relationships with computer

systems.Social are willing to form social

relationships with each other through computing systems.People could be interested

in/benefit from characters that form relationships with each

other.The rise in computing systems in service industry changes role of humans to that of consultants.

Computing can change the way people learn content in

classrooms.Computing can change the way people learn content outside of

classrooms.Computers make it possible for people to invade each others’

privacy in new ways.Computers create new data that

people might want to keep private.

People present themselves differently in computationally

mediated settings.Computers can be used to help people share information about

many content domains (e.g. ecology).

Computers can be used as a tool for environmental stewardship.Computers can be used as a tool

for environmental education.Computer games and the internet

are

Topics;Computerization and Working

Productivity ParadoxSystems Risks

Computerization and Living Privacy

Virtual CommunitiesComputerization and Learning

FormalInformal

Impact of the World on Computing - Design

Impact of Computing on the World

How the process of getting there affects how something is used

Who Cares, and What Are They Going To Do About It

How Operating Systems Affect How Computers Are Used

Schedule

Class Date Topic

Wed, Jan 5 Introduction – Logistics

Fri, Jan 7 Introduction – Social Impacts

Mon, Jan 10 Guest Lecture – Julia Gelfand

Wed, Jan 12 Social Effects of Software – Operating Systems

Fri, Jan 14 Social Effects of Software – Search (Talk Show)

Mon, Jan 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Wed, Jan 19 Social Effects of Software – HCI/Design

Fri, Jan 21

Mon, Jan 24 Computing and the Law

Wed, Jan 26 Computing and the Law

Fri, Jan 28 Computing and the Law

Mon, Jan 31 Computing and the Law

Wed, Feb 2 Guest Lecture – David Kay

Fri, Feb 4 Guest Lecture – David Kay

Mon, Feb 7

Wed, Feb 9

Fri, Feb 11 Midterm

Mon, Feb 14 Computers, Work and Learning

Wed, Feb 16 Guest Lecture – Beatriz da Costa

Fri, Feb 18 Computers, Work and Learning

Mon, Feb 21 Presidents’ Day Holiday

Wed, Feb 23 Computers, Work and Learning

Fri, Feb 25 Computers, Work and Learning

Mon, Feb 28 Computing and Social Relationships

Wed, Mar 2 Computing and Social Relationships

Fri, Mar 4 Computing and Social Relationships

Mon, Mar 7 Computing and Social Relationships

Wed, Mar 9 Guest Lecture?

Fri, Mar 11 Guest Lecture? Project Reports

Mon, Mar 14 Project Reports

Wed Mar 16 Summary and Review