Unit 7.1 Ethics & Ownership

Ethics

Good practice and guidelines demonstrating behavior, decisions, and actions within the sector.

Ethical Behavior examples

Involves developing unbiased algorithms, considering environmental impact, and designing accessible programs.

Unethical Behavior examples

Includes gaining unauthorized access, creating malware, and developing biased algorithms leading to discrimination.

Professional Bodies

Organizations promoting ethical practices and guidelines for their members.

Professional Bodies Pro’s

• Network opportunities

• L&D resources & opportunities

• Inc career prospects & marketability due to expertise validation.

• Career progression opportunities

Professional Bodies Con’s

• Membership fee

• Significant time investment

• Potentially restrictive practices & guidelines

British Computer Society (BCS) 4 Key Principles

• Public Interest

• Professional Competence and Integrity

• Duty to Relevant Authority

• Duty to the Profession

Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 8 Key Principles

• Self

• Product

• Public

• Judgement

• Client & Employer

• Management

• Profession

• Colleagues

Copyright

Protects owners' exclusive rights over their creative work, including reproduction, distribution, and derivative works.

Software Licenses

Legal terms and conditions under which software can be used.

Freeware Software

Non-chargeable and author retains full ownership & control and doesn’t allow software modification.

Open Source Software

Anyone can distribute/copy/amend/develop, often developed with colabs of interested parties.

Commercial Software

Chargeable - developed/distributed for profit, restriction of copying/distribution/selling to owner of software licence.

Shareware Software

Initially non-chargeable for testing & distribution encouragement then licence must be obtained, doesn’t allow software modification.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Computers simulating human intelligence and problem solving capabilities with uses in healthcare, finance, education, entertainment, retail & transport.

Social Impacts (AI)

• Low skilled workers could become unemployed

• Privacy concerns over data collection

• May inherit outdated biases

• Reshaping job market, inc demand in tech

Economy Impacts (AI)

• Inc production due to easy repetitive tasks.

• High skilled receive benefits, low skilled suffer

• Optimization of supply chains, delivery & reduce costs.

Environmental Impacts (AI)

• High energy & water consumption for optimal use

• High CO2 emissions contributing to climate change.