Comments for Social Issues in Computing

Comment on Computational Thinking Benefits Society by Research Report | hwiltzerbxe12

Research Report | hwiltzerbxe12 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:30:32 +0000

[…] 10. Wing, Jeannette M. “Computational Thinking Benefits Society.” Social Issues in Computing. University of Toronto, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 7 Mar. 2015. <http://socialissues.cs.toronto.edu/2014/01/computational-thinking/>. […]

Comment on What Aspects of E-Learning Will Have the Biggest Impact in the Next Decade? by Jacqueline Garcia

Jacqueline Garcia — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 22:03:05 +0000

Hello,
My name is Jackie and I am very interested in finding ways to create social change with computer science, specifically educational change. My question is, what is your comment on that and if you know anyone who does that type of work?
-Thank you.

Comment on Computational Thinking Benefits Society by jdd

jdd — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:22:44 +0000

In reply to Lorraine’s comment, before and during the year 2000, many of our computer science students told us they were there because they believed a computer science education would lead to a lucrative career. At the time both the Year 2000 date bug (Y2K) and the dot-com boom were fueling demand for computer professionals of many sorts. But after 2000, the demand for computing professionals plummeted: 2001 saw a recession, the Y2K bug was solved, and the dot-com bubble effectively burst. So students looking for a lucrative career began to look elsewhere. However in recent years, we have seen a huge surge in demand for computer science education, dwarfing previous demand. This time around, when we ask our students why they are interested in computer science, they tell us that they are not so much interested in computing for its own sake, or for a lucrative career, they want to use it to change the world. They mention many different areas where they want to apply computer science: biology, medicine, economics, urbanization, sociology, the environment, and many more. It seems to me to be much more than a matter of mobile technology (though of course that is a factor), but an emerging realization that computer science can make a huge difference in a great many areas.

John DiMarco
IT Director, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Editor, http://socialissues.cs.toronto.edu

Comment on Computational Thinking Benefits Society by Lorraine Akemann

Lorraine Akemann — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:04:08 +0000

Thank you for the article. As a mother of two daughters, and a beginning programmer myself, I appreciate this “grand vision” stated about advancing computational thinking as a fundamental educational skill. I have a few comments:

In section 3 about computational thinking and education, the first paragraph notes a decline in CS undergraduate majors around the year 2000, as compared to today’s (2014) upsurge in enrollments. I think one reason for the upsurge may be expansive adoption of mobile technologies that put computing in our back pockets. Could this have ignited interest in the field, anecdotally even from someone like me, who does not have a computer science background but a keen interest in technology?

Another point I’d like to underscore is the distinction between computational thinking, computer science, and computer programming. Those unfamiliar with these fields may have a tendency to lump them together (again, speaking from my own perspective) which creates distance from the diverse audiences computing is trying to attract. Continuing to explain the value and differences of all three may open new doors for engagement.

Finally, and simply, thanks for the reference to CSUnplugged.org. I have reviewed the site and this will be a terrific tool for my kids, and I plan to pass on the resource to their K12 teachers in our local public schools.

Sincerely,

Lorraine Akemann @momswithapps

Comment on Increasing the Participation of Women in Computing Careers by ardekay

ardekay — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:12:05 +0000

Thank you for your article. The number of women that apply for ICT courses at colleges or universities has increased the last 5 years here in Europe. We have placed as lot of feminine IT candidates lately.

Comment on Increasing the Participation of Women in Computing Careers by Netiva Caftori

Netiva Caftori — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 03:52:54 +0000

Glad to see an increase of female students in your university. I hope other universities will follow suit and make efforts to involve more women in the computing field.

Comment on Computational Thinking Benefits Society by Calvin Gotlieb

Calvin Gotlieb — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:22:18 +0000

An insightful and inspiring article
Easy to see why the writer is so greatly admired and in demand.

Comment on Computer Technology and Voting by Calvin Gotlieb

Calvin Gotlieb — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 17:09:24 +0000

A highly informative article –with commendable brevity and citations

Comment on Increasing the Participation of Women in Computing Careers by Aaron Moore

Aaron Moore — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:00:15 +0000

I studied computer engineering. I noticed in my school a low percentage of women in computer engineering and a high percentage in chemical engineering. Talking with colleagues they found similar ratios at other schools. Could some people have emotional and behavioral tendencies that support computer science work? And others do not? People need to study and work in alignment with their strengths. If you work in the computer science field you should expect to spend long hours focused on your computer. It might be good for more young people to rigorously assess themselves to see what they should study.
Aaron Moore, B Eng

Comment on 40th Anniversary Blog Introduction by Lennon Ruggier

Lennon Ruggier — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:07:31 +0000

Information systems and privacy have, perhaps, never been more relevant. I can’t believe this book had the foresight to tackle this topic so long ago.

Comment on Digitizing Ozymandias by Brian Sutherland

Brian Sutherland — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:23:07 +0000

You should probably come to #ISTAS13, http://veillance.me/

Comment on 40th Anniversary Blog Introduction by Michael Brodie

Michael Brodie — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:54:26 +0000

Kelly and his Social Issues in Computing class had a significant impact on me in the early 1970’s (I was in the first class) and on my career. Kelly expanded my Computer Science education with the broader vision that computing has and will have social and other impacts beyond mere computing. This led to my involvement in the 1970s with the Ontario Computer Ombudsman through more recent activities with the Web working with Tim Berners-Lee and the Web Science Trust that states in part “If we are to ensure the Web benefits the human race we must first do our best to understand it. The Web is the largest human information construct in history. The Web is transforming society. In order to understand what the Web is, engineer its future and ensure its social benefit we need a new interdisciplinary field that we call Web Science”. – This seems to be a modern restatement of the premises of Social Issues in Computing. Lessons from Kelly and the class contributed to my participation in US Academy of Sciences commissions on Privacy impacts of Counter-Terrorism and on US Healthcare Reform. In hindsight I see Kelly and the class behind my Personal Statement that includes “Whatever you are doing with computers, you are changing our world. Is it for the better?”

Thank you Kelly and Al for your wisdom and your foresight.
Michael Brodie

Comment on Perspectives on ICT Professionalism in 2013 by Celebrating 40th Anniversary “Social Issues in Computing” - Canadian IT Manager's Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:00:37 +0000

[…] Stephen Ibaraki, Founder and Chair, IFIP IP3 Global Industry Council (part 2 of three/four articles), “PERSPECTIVES ON ICT PROFESSIONALISM IN 2013”: http://socialissues.cs.toronto.edu/2013/02/ict-professionalism-2013/ […]

Comment on 40th Anniversary Blog Introduction by Scott Ambler

Scott Ambler — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:04:04 +0000

While I was a undergrad student at U of T in Computer Science, the same years JD was there (JD, we should go for a coffee sometime soon!), I had the privilege of taking classes with both Dr. Gotlieb and Dr. Bordin. Dr. Gotlieb’s social issues class really did get me thinking outside of the computer science box as it were. I still think back to it from time to time. I look forward to reading this blog.

Comment on The Enduring Social Issues in Computing by Ron

Ron — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:39:49 +0000

Good read; including mention of “Social Issues of Computing did not identify all of the issues that would emerge of coming decades. They did not anticipate such rising issues as the role of women in the computing professions”.

Comment on Privacy: It’s Harder Than We Thought by Ron

Ron — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:13:19 +0000

Interestingly, Twain once conveyed the idea that ideally a reader would have to discover their own order to a book; great sentence – I thought privacy was the “issue of the future,” little imagining that it would still be “the issue of the future” four decades later.

Here’s a few posts of possible interest:

http://icblog.firstreference.com/when-a-privacy-policy-is-not-enough/#axzz2JwvueXAA

http://icblog.firstreference.com/protecting-sensitive-data-against-the-insider-threat-with-data-masking-2/#axzz2JwvueXAA

http://icblog.firstreference.com/privacy-practices-for-developing-mobile-applications-apps/#axzz2JwvueXAA

Comment on Social Issues in Computing and the Internet by Ron

Ron — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:54:18 +0000

It speaks volumes that this post was written by Vinton; clearly ‘Social Issues in Computing’ was an insightful piece of work.

Comment on ICT E-Skills and Professionalism in 2013 by Ron

Ron — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:44:38 +0000

Great start; look forward to reading your future articles.

Comment on Interview With the Authors: Part 1 by Ron

Ron — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:40:13 +0000

Enjoyed reading the post.

Comment on ICT E-Skills and Professionalism in 2013 by Celebrating 40th Anniversary “Social Issues in Computing” - Canadian Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:46:14 +0000

[…] My piece (part 1 of three articles, focused on ICT Professionalism), ICT E-Skills and Professionalism in 2013: http://socialissues.cs.toronto.edu/2013/01/ict-professionalism-in-2013-p1/ […]

Comment on ICT E-Skills and Professionalism in 2013 by Dave O'Leary

Dave O'Leary — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:51:09 +0000

At no time in the history of humanity has a commitment to ethics and professional been needed more than in our ICT dependent world. Expert knowledge and competence is both a great asset and a huge responsibility. Knowing that one of our brightest and most competent leaders, the amazing Kelly Gotlieb, identified the critical importance of ethics and professional to our profession from the beginning is not surprising and is one of his many gifts to us. What must happen now is that every one of us in this fastest growing field must become Kelly-like and embrace and live the values so clearly defined. We must ensure that the power of expertise is guided by the reason, passion and care of the eithical and professional mind. Thank you Kelli for showing the way.
Dave O’Leary I.S.P., ITCP/IP3P
Chair National Council Deans of IT
Director & VP CIPS British Columbia
Director ICTC

Comment on The Enduring Social Issues in Computing by Netiva

Netiva — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:02:44 +0000

Gender was not mentioned in this article and should. I believe women will have more and more access as technology melts into society.

Comment on ICT E-Skills and Professionalism in 2013 by TechNet Blogs

TechNet Blogs — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:11:24 +0000

[…] My piece (part 1 of three articles, focused on ICT Professionalism): http://socialissues.cs.toronto.edu/2013/01/ict-professionalism-in-2013-p1/ […]