Ethics
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that
deals with issues of morality —
consideration of what human actions
and reactions are morally right and
wrong.
In this section:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Issues > Ethics
Personal Computer Ethics
Professional Computer Ethics
Governmental Computer Ethics
Accessible Computing
Green Computing
Digital Divide
Legal vs. Ethical
An act is legal if it complies to governing laws and
regulations, whereas an act is also ethical if it is morally
correct and right and complies to ethical policies of an
individual or organization.
Three meaningful questions that apply:
• Are our responsibilities limited to what the law requires of us?
• If we are legally allowed to do something, does that mean we ought
to?
• If there is no relevant law to speak of with respect to a "What should
I do?" problem we're facing, does that mean that anything goes?
The answers to these questions are: No. No. No.
Personal Computer Ethics
Personal computer ethics
refers to the responsible use
of computers by individuals
outside of professional
environments.
Issues > Ethics > Personal Computer Ethics
Professional Computer
Ethics
Professional computer ethics involves the ethical
issues faced by professionals in their use of
computer systems as part of their jobs.
Issues > Ethics > Professional Computer Ethics
Governmental Computer
Ethics
Governmental
computer ethics refers
to a government’s
responsibility to create
laws to protect citizens
from unethical computer
use, and provide citizens
with equal access to
computers and
information technologies
as well as their benefits.
Issues > Ethics > Governmental Computer Ethics
Accessible Computing
Accessible computing refers to providing equal access to
computers and information technology for individuals with
disabilities.
Issues > Ethics > Accessible Computing
Green Computing
Green computing refers to the efforts of individuals,
businesses, and governments to utilize environmentally
conscious practices in the manufacturing and use of digital
technologies.
New computing technologies are being
invented that use less energy. Lightemitting diodes (LEDs) used in newer
displays reduce energy use by 80
percent over CRT monitors.
Issues > Ethics > Green Computing
E-waste refers to discarded digital
electronics devices and components.
The EPA estimates that 400,000 tons
of e-waste is sent to recycling
services each year.
Digital Divide
The digital divide
refers to the social and
economic gap between
those who have access
to computers and the
Internet and those who
do not.
Issues > Ethics > Digital Divide