Lecture 3 - System Reliability
In Part 1, you should use different ethical ideas to solve the
scenarios.
Scenario 1: Alexis Uses Computers That Are Not Approved for His
Schoolwork
According to Kantianism, it was wrong for Alexis to use another
person’s papers, since she failed to think of the individual as an end
in herself.
Her strategy of Act Utilitarianism may be ethical because it allows
her to grow and gain more joy, while doing so at a small cost to
other people.
She broke certain rules that everyone is expected to follow in using
the system.
Though she seems hard working and goes after her goals, she is
unable to demonstrate integrity or respect.
Scenario 2: Blame for Spam Goes to Innocent Senders
The actions are unethical from a Kantian viewpoint, since the users
there are treated much like means to reducing spam.
Act Utilitarianism: Reducing spam to millions may be ethical, if doing
so helps more than it harms.
Social Contract Theory: Unethical – Because innocent users didn’t
take part in the agreement, it is unfair and discriminatory for the
company.
Rule Utilitarianism: Unethical – If rules allow banning innocent users,
it’s not possible to maintain this situation comfortably.
Scenario 3: Launching Unfinished Software
Kantianism: Unethical – Trying to gain an advantage by misleading
customers means using them for a selfish purpose.
This approach is considered unethical because the fast gain might
not outdo the bigger harm that may come later (like failures in
software or someone’s trust in the company).
Social Contract Theory: Not ethical because it means business
partners do not trust each other and have lost confidence in
reliability.
Shipping faulty products according to a rule is not ethical, as it
threatens what customers expect from the industry.
Scenario 4: Using photography to catch people speeding and
trace terrorists.
Kantianism: Ethical if everyone knows the facts and is respected – In
this case, the system is considered ethical.
Act Utilitarianism sees action as ethical because it slows down
speeders and arrests terrorists, making the public a lot safer.
If those who are watched give consent, Social Contract Theory says
this is right as they have agreed on it.
According to Rule Utilitarianism, a law that allows surveillance for
the public’s benefit and has clear boundaries and is watched, is
good for everyone.
Part 2: Issues at the Iowa Caucus – Was Technology To Blame or a
Combination of Technology and People?
Analysis: The challenges at the Iowa caucus were due to faulty
interaction between humans and technology and not just a technical
problem.
Key points:
We experienced problems with both usability and reliability on the
app.
The users had not received enough practice or experience.
Because there was little communication and support, situations
became blurry.
The sources of Reliability Errors are discussed.
The lack of easy-to-use design made it possible for users to run into
mistakes.
The error was in not carrying out enough trials of the application
before it was released.
The app users were not properly taught how to use the app prior to
election day.
When users expect something different from what the system does,
it’s called interaction error.
No way to see errors or have a backup plan while sending data.
Conclusion: In this case, failure of the technological system occurred,
since there wasn’t proper training, communication and planning for
emergencies involved.
