Computing and Society

Computing and Society examines the role computing takes in society. The module incorporates ideas from ethical practice, usability and accessibility, sustainability, and an introduction to the legal frameworks related to computing. The module provides the foundation skills in research analysis and design used in later modules in artificial intelligence and data science. Understanding people (users) and their needs is fundamental to the modern computer scientist, where they develop systems for people. Furthermore, ethical concerns on computer use and the professional requirements surrounding these concerns are essential in the modern IT workplace. Computing and Society introduces computing in a social context, examining initially ethical arguments surrounding computer usage in modern society. Accessibility and sustainability of computer systems is also explored. Professionalism, and in particular professional conduct and interaction are examined via digital collaboration tools. Finally, an introduction to legal frameworks � specifically intellectual property � is undertaken.

Computing in Society provides students with the legal, social, ethical, and professional frameworks that allow them to be responsible IT practitioners. The understanding delivered in this module is fundamental when working in areas of software engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, and cyber-security within computer science.

The aim of Computing and Society is to develop student's fluency in professional and ethical practice. The module will require students to examine various case studies of computing use to undertake ethical argumentation surrounding best practice. Computing and Society provides the fourth of five views (societal view) delivered in Year 1 of Computer Science, following the software view, hardware view, and formal view delivered in Semester 1, in conjunction with the data view provided by Databases in Semester 2.