1. Strand 1 Social and ethical significance

2. Reliability and Integrity Reliability ◦Refers the operation of hardware, the design of software, the accuracy of data. ◦The reliability of machines, software and data determines our confidence in their value ◦Data can be unreliable if it is entered incorrectly or if it is outdated. Integrity ◦Safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of stored data ◦Data lacks integrity when it has been changed accidently or tampered with

3. Security Security ◦Refers to the protection of hardware, software, machines and networks from unauthorized access. ◦The degree of security largely determines society’s confidence in the information contained in the systems

4. Privacy and anonymity Privacy ◦The ability of individuals and groups to determine for themselves when, how and to what extent information about themselves is shared with others Anonymity ◦When a person uses privacy to conceal his or her true identity

5. Intellectual Property ◦Includes ideas, discoveries, writings, works of art, software, collections and presentations of data. ◦Copyright, trademarks and patents exist to protect intellectual property ◦But, easy and accurate duplication methods can undermine such protection

6. Authenticity Authenticity ◦Establishing a user’s identity beyond reasonable doubt. ◦A user login to a network ◦Encrypted digital signatures

7. Digital divide and Equality of Access Equality of access ◦IT systems have led to disparities in the use of, and access to, information technologies. ◦Not only between countries, but within countries ◦Cost and availability help create a “digital divide”

8. Surveillance Surveillance ◦The use of IT to monitor the actions of people ◦Track, record, and assess employees’ performance ◦Can support claims for promotion or to ensure proper internet use

9. Globalization Globalization ◦The diminishing importance of geographical, political, economic and cultural boundaries ◦Any dramatic event can be broadcast almost instantly by television or internet ◦May lead to the extinction of minority cultures and languages

10. Policies Policies ◦Enforceable measures intended to promote appropriate and discourage inappropriate use related to IT. ◦Can be developed by governments, businesses, private groups or individuals ◦School policies

11. Standards and Protocols ◦Technical rules and conventions that enable compatibility and therefore facilitate communication between IT systems and their components ◦ASCII, Unicode ◦Design of ports

12. People and machines ◦Ease of use ◦Available 24/7 ◦Can raise concerns about rate of technology and insufficient testing ◦Also fear that computers will take over decisions better left to humans, i.e. nuclear weapons ◦Internet addiction

13. Digital Citizenship Digital citizenship ◦Appropriate behavior that represents the responsible, ethical and legal approach that individuals take in any situation with respect to the use of IT