Schedule

The contents of the links should be considered a working list and will likely change. The readings for each week are shown in two rows, corresponding to the two class days each week (e.g. 1st row is for Mon., 2nd row is for Wed.) The assigned readings are the basis for the quizzes that will be given regularly, so the readings should be completed by the day listed. The schedule shown below will likely change as we see how many discussions and debates are chosen under each topic.

    Reading (page numbers refer to pdf and print versions)  
Week
Begins
 Topic
(follow link for assignments)		 Blown to Bits Future of Internet
pdf   html
Other

Presentations
(on Wed)
1
8/24
 Introduction
Benefits & Risks of the Digital Explosion		 M: Course web pages
W: ch.1		     0
2
8/31
 Rise and Stall of the Generative Net  

M: Preface, Introduction, ch.1
W: ch. 2

    
3
9/7
 Privacy & Personal Information
Databases, Laws, Workplace Monitoring

M: ch. 2, pp. 19-55
W: ch. 2, pp. 55-72

    

0.5
4
9/14
 Meeting the Risks of Generativity: Privacy 2.0   M: ch. 9, pp. 200-221
W: ch. 9, pp. 221-234


Position Paper #1 due Wed

 
5
9/21
 Are bits Forever? M: ch. 3, pp. 73-94
W: ch. 3, pp. 95-108		     1, 2
6
9/28
 Search ability gives Power M: ch. 4, pp. 109-137
W: ch. 4, pp. 138-160		     3, 4
7
10/5
 Encryption & Intercepting Information
Background, Cryptography, Encryption		 M: ch. 5, pp. 161-173
W: ch. 5, pp. 174-193		   Position Paper #2 due Thursday, 10/8 5
8
10/12
 Intellectual Property
Copyright Law, Music, Solutions, Free software, Free-speech 		M: ch. 6, pp. 195-209
W: 		    6
9
10/19
   M: ch. 6, pp. 209-228
W: 		    7, 8
10
10/26
 Reliability, Accountability & Liability
What can go wrong, Therac-25		 M:
W: 		    9
11
11/2
 Freedom of Speech
Censorship, Children, Anonymity, Spam, Open Access		 M: ch. 7, pp. 229-245
W: 		    10, 11
12
11/9
   M: ch. 7, pp. 245-257
W: 		    12, 13
13
11/16

Computers' Impact on Society: Digital Divide
Computers and Work, Ethics

 M: ch. 8, pp. 259-288
W: ch. 8, pp. 288-300,
     Appendix		     14, 15
14
11/23
 Cyber-Crime: Hackers, Pranks, Viruses   M: ch. 3
W:		   16
15
11/30
 The Generative Pattern
The Lessons of Wikipedia		   M: ch. 4: pp. 67-85
W: ch. 6		    

Thanks to many of my students over the years who have suggested topics, web links, questions, and ideas for this course. Many of them continue to do so even after the course is over!

[CS Dept.] [UIC] [Prof. Reed]