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Introduction to Computer Science

Thought Provokers

Introduction to Computer ScienceThought Provokers

Thought Provokers

1 .
Corporate social responsibility is the idea that businesses have a responsibility to society, including the areas of environmental responsibility, ethical responsibility, philanthropic responsibility, and economic responsibility. Given the contentious history of computer science and computer technologies, what can businesses (or businesspeople) that wish to employ a “disruptive” computer technology do to ensure corporate social responsibility?
2 .
Computer technologies like the Internet have changed everyone’s lives, regardless of whether they use the Internet directly or not. Yet, with computer technologies, the future is rarely certain. How can a business stay relevant and profitable in the face of new technologies while ensuring corporate social responsibility? In what ways does ensuring corporate social responsibility create economic value and more diverse kinds of value?
3 .
Give a real-life public policy problem involving a computer technology or dataset and use it to illustrate differences between the fields of data science, information science, and computer science.
4 .
Mathematics is one of three perspectives that computer scientists use to design, analyze, and evaluate computational structures, systems, and processes. However, mathematics is often regarded as an abstract or “pure” field of study that is not involved in social or political concerns. How might computer science’s ability to automate and represent problems in mathematical terms have social or political consequences?
5 .
The future of society will be shaped by the philosophy of computer science and people’s purposes, motivations, and political values. Give another philosophy that might influence or affect how computer scientists go about creating solutions.
6 .
If your organization is interested in artificial intelligence technology to enhance operations, what could you do to ensure the system is designed and implemented in a safe, socially responsible, and just manner?
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