Monday, October 26, 2009
FBI Database Evaluation
The database will definitely be faster and more accurate; however, it could be considered as a violation of privacy and anonymity. The database will have biometrics from not just the US, but from abroad as well. Some might say this is a violation of personal rights to have biometrics from people who don’t even live in the United States. The database might also hurt employees. Employers will give the FBI their employees fingerprints and in turn will be notified when the employee has any law violation; even those as meaningless as a parking ticket.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Database Vocabulary
Field - An element of a database record in which one piece of information is stored.
Key Field - A field in a segment or record that holds the value of a key to that record.
Record - to set down in writing or the like, as for the purpose of preserving evidence. to make a record.
Search - to examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.
Query - A user's (or agent's) request for information, generally as a formal request to a database or search engine.
Sort - To arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify.
Database Management System - A special data processing system, or part of a data processing system, which aids in the storage, manipulation, reporting, management, and control of data. Abbreviated DBMS.
Mail Merge - The process of combining a form letter with a list of names and addresses to produce individualized letters.
Flat-file Database - A database system in which each database contains only one file, which is not linked to any other file.
Relational Database - A database system in which any database file can be a component of more than one of the database's tables.
Data Redundancy - When the same data values are stored more than once in a table, or when the same values are stored in more than one table
Data Integrity - The assurance that data is consistent and correct.
Key Field - A field in a segment or record that holds the value of a key to that record.
Record - to set down in writing or the like, as for the purpose of preserving evidence. to make a record.
Search - to examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.
Query - A user's (or agent's) request for information, generally as a formal request to a database or search engine.
Sort - To arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify.
Database Management System - A special data processing system, or part of a data processing system, which aids in the storage, manipulation, reporting, management, and control of data. Abbreviated DBMS.
Mail Merge - The process of combining a form letter with a list of names and addresses to produce individualized letters.
Flat-file Database - A database system in which each database contains only one file, which is not linked to any other file.
Relational Database - A database system in which any database file can be a component of more than one of the database's tables.
Data Redundancy - When the same data values are stored more than once in a table, or when the same values are stored in more than one table
Data Integrity - The assurance that data is consistent and correct.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
A Gift of Fire - p. 38-44
2.8 List two government databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
IRS - no benefit
Army - job
2.9 List two private databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
Facebook - Online P2P database that allows you to connect with other people.
Citizens Bank Online - debit card and bank account
2.10 A company that supplies filtering software to schools (to block access by children to Web sites with violence or pornography) sold statistical data about the sites visited by school children. The data did not identify the children or the individual schools. Was this a privacy violation? Why or why not?
No. The statistics contain no personal data such as names, schools or locations. The data simply shows statistics about school children as a whole. Tracking these sort of things without recording personal data is a good thing because it allows developers to target specific areas/websites that are unsafe for children and update their software.
IRS - no benefit
Army - job
2.9 List two private databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
Facebook - Online P2P database that allows you to connect with other people.
Citizens Bank Online - debit card and bank account
2.10 A company that supplies filtering software to schools (to block access by children to Web sites with violence or pornography) sold statistical data about the sites visited by school children. The data did not identify the children or the individual schools. Was this a privacy violation? Why or why not?
No. The statistics contain no personal data such as names, schools or locations. The data simply shows statistics about school children as a whole. Tracking these sort of things without recording personal data is a good thing because it allows developers to target specific areas/websites that are unsafe for children and update their software.
Social and Ethical Questions - IT Developments
Social issues
What are the social issues associated with a particular IT development?
Some IT developments can be too selective like the “smile measurement” and could affect a person’s job and wellness. An employee’s job, who knows their every movement is constantly being monitored, will be affected by the stress they will feel because they are worried about keeping their job. In turn they will be more focused on doing the right thing and make more mistakes.
2. How did the IT development emerge?
IT developments have emerged due to the increasing competition between businesses. The method companies use to get ahead of the competition is finding fast cheap ways to increase revenue and business value.
3. Who are the stakeholders—individuals, institutions, societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them?
Omron Corporation, Venu Govindaraju - University of Buffalo in New York, Unilever, Tabanar, Fujitaka, Toronto Rehabilitation Technologies
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?
Advantages - Quicker than humans, environmentally friendly, cheaper, more accurate than humans, safer, can boost sales and revenue
Disadvantages - Takes jobs away from people, hurt the economy, technology breaks, need qualified people on call 24/7 to fix. expensive
5. What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?
Provide training to maintain the new technologies to maintain the amount of jobs available. A company could make sure to keep their technology updated and maintained.
6. What is the social impact of the IT development on human life? This may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.
IT Development takes away jobs in a company. In a bar for instance, a computerized vision system to detect underage customers eliminates the need to hire a bouncer. Companies that constantly monitor how happy and excited their employees are can cause stress for the employee and not only make them worried about job security, but also cause them to be stressed on the job; they will have less patience with customers and will be more worried about doing/saying the right thing than just being friendly.
Ethical issues
What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?
IT development such as the computer-vision system in cars will cause the cost of cars to increase even higher than they already are. Those people with these systems in their cars can be tracked for their whole life; wherever they go, whatever they do can be monitored by those with the technical capabilities.
2. Who is responsible?
The makers of the IT developments and the people using the products are both equally responsible.
3. Who is accountable?
Again the makers of the It developments and the people using the products.
4. What policies, rules or laws apply to the situation?
The fourth amendment - no unreasonable searches or seizures without a warrant.
5. What are the alternative ethical decisions?
People can decide not to use these products. Developers and companies can not abuse the ability to track people.
What are the social issues associated with a particular IT development?
Some IT developments can be too selective like the “smile measurement” and could affect a person’s job and wellness. An employee’s job, who knows their every movement is constantly being monitored, will be affected by the stress they will feel because they are worried about keeping their job. In turn they will be more focused on doing the right thing and make more mistakes.
2. How did the IT development emerge?
IT developments have emerged due to the increasing competition between businesses. The method companies use to get ahead of the competition is finding fast cheap ways to increase revenue and business value.
3. Who are the stakeholders—individuals, institutions, societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them?
Omron Corporation, Venu Govindaraju - University of Buffalo in New York, Unilever, Tabanar, Fujitaka, Toronto Rehabilitation Technologies
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?
Advantages - Quicker than humans, environmentally friendly, cheaper, more accurate than humans, safer, can boost sales and revenue
Disadvantages - Takes jobs away from people, hurt the economy, technology breaks, need qualified people on call 24/7 to fix. expensive
5. What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?
Provide training to maintain the new technologies to maintain the amount of jobs available. A company could make sure to keep their technology updated and maintained.
6. What is the social impact of the IT development on human life? This may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.
IT Development takes away jobs in a company. In a bar for instance, a computerized vision system to detect underage customers eliminates the need to hire a bouncer. Companies that constantly monitor how happy and excited their employees are can cause stress for the employee and not only make them worried about job security, but also cause them to be stressed on the job; they will have less patience with customers and will be more worried about doing/saying the right thing than just being friendly.
Ethical issues
What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?
IT development such as the computer-vision system in cars will cause the cost of cars to increase even higher than they already are. Those people with these systems in their cars can be tracked for their whole life; wherever they go, whatever they do can be monitored by those with the technical capabilities.
2. Who is responsible?
The makers of the IT developments and the people using the products are both equally responsible.
3. Who is accountable?
Again the makers of the It developments and the people using the products.
4. What policies, rules or laws apply to the situation?
The fourth amendment - no unreasonable searches or seizures without a warrant.
5. What are the alternative ethical decisions?
People can decide not to use these products. Developers and companies can not abuse the ability to track people.
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