QUESTION
Task :
To ensure that you understand the issues involved, before being employed, the manager has asked you to write a report on the ethics of such a device (the hardware and the easy to use software) in terms of its use.. You must keep in mind that without a simplified user interface to the complex software of the device, it could only be used by trained medical staff.
He has asked you for this report to clarify what ethical issues will be relevant to you, an IT professional, as you will be employed by him. You are not to concern yourself with other ethical issues of the device, as that is outside your expertise and, understanding the other issues, is the manager’s responsibility.
SOLUTION
Introduction
With the help of intensive research an Australian Company (ACS) has been able to develop a hardware which is able to perform genetic tests. This is a miniature USB device which can be either connected to the computer or to the mobile phones. Once plugged the software which controls this device is capable of self installation and uploads and allows anyone to interpret the genetic results.
Thus this small device is capable of reading , analysing and storing anyone’s human DNA information, and all the things which are requires are just 0.1 cm length of one human hair or skin cells or saliva cells or some other human cells. The smart analytical software which is in the device allows the user to analyse the concerned person’s genes or to find any kind of defects etc. This software also allows storing the whole DNA code which can be compared with the other using the external memory storage.
As a Human Computer Interaction Specialist, we need to develop a user interface which is quite simplified in its functioning because complex software will require just the trained medical staff for using this device, which will restrict the usage of this device.
Relevant Ethical Issues
The increasing importance of ICT’s has led to enhanced and ramified ethically for new technologies to be implemented. The fast rate of technological modifications needs us to develop clear understanding of the emerging technologies and the potential impacts too (Rundle and Conley, 2007).
Biometrics is considered to be an emerging technology which first measures and analyses the unique characteristics of the individuals including both the behavioural as well as physical (Wikipedia entry for “Biometrics”, n.d.).
HREC’s play a major role in human as well as medical research and in order to find that the research conforms to ethical as well as scientific standards it is necessary to review research applications for this device. Ethical reviews also help in providing the public confidence on the device and the system. This is the reason why Australia should maintain high activity level in human health and medical research (Evaluation of the NSW Department of health model for single ethical review of Multi-centre REview, 2009).
Methodology and Approach to the Device
The methodology for report was analysed from the perspective of the stakeholders. Extensive stakeholder consultation should be undertaken for collecting the data to arrive for a point of ethical evaluation. The means which could be used for taking their views are (Marchmann and Goodman, 2006):
• Personal interviews of stakeholders like the sample group of general public or members of ACS or various government departments.
• Focus groups can be organised on various special occasions which contains specific interest groups.
• Written submissions through mails or emails could be asked for from the stakeholders.
• The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research form 2007 as well as the Australian Code of ethics System (ACS) should be consulted.
Recommendations
Ethics is something similar to ‘morals’ and is defines as systematic portrayal of what we call morals (ETHICAL THEORIES, n.d.). In making the decision for developing the software for this device the ethical theories which are applicable or of help are:
Deontology Theory
It states that the good is defined independently without considering the right. That is why Kantianism which says that eth actions should be able to satisfy the categorical imperative holds well. The Basic Notion which should be followed is ‘the right’. The practical reasoning for ethical decision should consider determining what is rational and here developing the software which is complex user interface would be rational because a simple software will lead to usage of this device for cyber-crimes and genomic attacks (Brown, 2001).
Aristoteleniasim
This is the Virtue ethics theory which would be helpful in making ethical decision as virtue is a mean between the extremes of passion or action and tells a person what habits should be developed. The basic notion out here is ‘virtue’ (Brown, 2001). SO if the company pressurises to develop a simple user interface just to earn big profit margins keeping the biometrics information of human beings at stake, then according to the ethics of virtues this is not ethical.
Utilitarianism
It states that the moral standards which one should follow should simply enhance them and promote the best long-term benefits for the society and the people which are related to it. That is why many utilitarianistics support hedonic calculus, which supports the intrinsic pleasure and happiness. So one should at utilitarianistic by doing the right act which is capable of producing greatest ration of good as compared to bad. Thus even if the device might be misused by some of the people to achieve benefits which are harmful to the society, this device will prove helpful in many ways to the society as biometric device can be helpful in creating genetic paperless identity at airports and protect us from cyber crimes (Nine Theories pof ethics that rule the world, n.d.)
Thus if we decide to develop a software with the simple user interface for Biometric device it would be helpful to major chunk of the society and that is why the stakeholders will definitely agree to launching this device not because of profit margins but due to ethical virtues and right act of utilitarianism.
Ethical IT issues in relation to Australian Computer Society code of ethics and Code of Conduct
The code of ethics are separate from the constitution and are a set of guidelines which have been made to develop acceptable methods of practice within the ICT industry and it also act as a supporting guide to tell in which way the code of ethics will work in various practical situations (Molander and Siang, 1998).
The code of ethics of ACS wants all its members to uphold and propagate the dignity, effectiveness and the honour by being a through professional. This necessitates that the professional should be a good citizen and abides the law and adhere to the ACS values. All the guidelines of eth ACS code of conduct are applicable to all eth ACS members regardless of whatever role they have in eth ICT industry and any failure to abide by these code of conduct by ACs will be treated as sheer professional negligence for grounds of claim and can also lead to disciplinary action taken against the professional by ACS (ACS Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, 1995-2012).
The code of Ethics Values:
• Supreme importance to the public interest
• Honesty
• Professional Development
• Enhancing the quality of life
• Competence
• Professionalism
In the case of developing user interface for this biometric device most of the values of code of ethics are fulfilled this indicates that this device to register the genetic data of human beings is in public interest and will definitely enhance the quality of life.
Comparison of ethical code of conduct of New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) with ACS
The New Zealand Computer Society Incs (NCZS) is the professional governing body for the IT sector in New Zealand and they are called the NZCS code of professional conduct. The codes are listed below:
• Non-discriminatory
• Skills
• Outcomes and Consequences
• Zeal
• Continuous Development
• Competence
• Community
• Potential or real conflicts of interest (Brinkman, Brinkman and Sanders, 2012)
Here in case of Real or potential conflicts of interest exists according to which the professional member should tell their employer or client regarding any matter of interest which might be taken as or is a matter of conflict with the interest of the employer or client or any interest which might directly or indirectly affect the matter of quality of service provided or in case of impartial judgement (The NZCS Code of Professional Conduct, 2009).
But in case of ACS there does not exist any such ethical code where the professional should inform their employer or client about the potential or real conflicts of interest. The professional might choose to hide the matter of conflict and work till their purpose is solved and might leave the organisation citing the reason of conflict with the employer later on (ACS Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, 1995-2012).
Conclusion
Thus after analysing the ethical codes of conduct of ACS and comparing them with the NZCS, being the ICT professional given the responsibility to developed user interface for the biometric device to store anyone’s human DNA first there should be proper research conducted regarding the benefit analysis for human beings and after that studying the cons of developing a simplified user interface for maximum human beings to use it, it would be better to make a decision to take the job. The three ethical theories however, Aristoteleniasim, Deontology Theory and Utilitarianism support that the software for this device should be developed as the major benefits for human race will be accomplished by this device. Thus considering the risks and opportunities for ICT development of this device should be considered regarding sustainable development and the sustainability should consider basic three criterions: social compatibility, human compatibility and ecological compatibility (Quigley, 2008).
Bibliography
ACS Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct (1995-2012), [Online], Available: http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm?action=show&conID=coe [12 April 2012].
Brinkman, W.J., Brinkman, B. and Sanders, A.F. (2012) Ethics in a Computing Culture, Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Brown, C. (2001) Ethical theories Compared, 16 April, [Online], Available: http://www.trinity.edu/cbrown/intro/ethical_theories.html [12 April 2012].
ETHICAL THEORIES, [Online], Available: http://aerostudents.com/files/ethics/ethicalTheories.pdf [11 APril 2012].
Evaluation of the NSW Department of health model for single ethical review of Multi-centre REview (2009), Spit Junction, NSW: Grwoing your KNowledge Pty Ltd.
Marchmann, G. and Goodman, K.W. (2006) ‘Introduction: Ethics of Information technology in Health Care’, International Review of Information Ethics, vol. 5, September.
Molander, R.C. and Siang, S. (1998) ‘The Legitimization of Strategic Information Warfare: Ethical Considerations’, Professional Ethics Report.
Nine Theories pof ethics that rule the world, [Online], Available: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~dgs2/theories.pdf [12 April 2012].
Quigley, M. (2008) Encyclopedia of Information Ethics and Security, Hershey, PA: Information Science REference.
Rundle, M. and Conley, C. (2007) ‘Ethical Imp[lications of Emerging technologies: A survey’, UNESCO: Geneva Net Dialogue, Paris.
The NZCS Code of Professional Conduct (2009), November, [Online], Available: http://www.nzcs.org.nz/files/NZCS%20Code%20of%20Professional%20Conduct.pdf [12 April 2012].
Wikipedia entry for “Biometrics”, [Online], Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/biometrics [11 April 2012].
Introduction
This report basically inform about my decision making after studying the ACS whether the job of Human Computer Interaction Specialist would be ethical for me to take up or not. After watching the movies ‘GATTACA’ (Gattaca, 2012) which is more or less related to same kind of decision making related to ethical code of conducts in ICT , it makes the decision making much more simpler.
Rather using informal guidelines for making ethical decisions regarding taking up the job would be the best which have already been analysed. Informal guidelines should be followed before making any ethical decision as done by Vincent in the movies GATTACA. Few of the long –standing and much broadly analysed ethical principles are being listed below which will help in making ethical decision making (Heathcote, 2005).
Ethical Informal Guidelines
· Follow the Golden Rule: Always try not to do something to others in the society which you would not want to be done with you. Always think about the potential effects of your actions and keep yourself in the position of the people who will get affected by developing this user interface and then make decision.
· Follow Kant’s Categorical imperative: It says that if the action is not correct for everyone then it is better not to take that action by anyone. Just analyse what would happen if everyone starts acting the way you act.
· The greatest good will lead to the least harm: It is very difficult to choose one course of action, because every action has a bunch of pros and cons attached to it. But while choosing a course of action always pick the none which has the greatest good or benefit for the maximum number of people in the society and causes the least harm to the lesser number of people in the society.
· Follow the Slippery Slope Rule: a Professional should never take the actions which bring about small but acceptable changes which when taken repeatedly might lead to unacceptable changes in the long run. Such actions which have short term benefits attached to them should be dumped by the ICT professional.
Conclusion
Thus by watching the movie GATTACA which throws leggy on the concerns attached with the reproductive technologies facilitating eugenics which can cause possible consequences to the society in the form of technological development, the decision making has become easier (Gradner, 2003). Moreover the ethical informal guidelines have also helped in making the decision to accept this job offer of developing a user interface for the Australian company which wants to develop a device which can store human genetic code.
This device can bring revolutionary changes in the society, like identity theft, cyber crimes and many more information technology related problems will be solved. So after analysing the benefits attached to developing this software, the decision would be to take up this job and follow the ethical code of conduct developed by ACS to promote the wellbeing in the society and along with that enhance the quality of life as people would be able to carry their genetic identity anywhere they want and get treated for worst diseases in hassle free manner.
Bibliography
Gattaca (2012), 4 April, [Online], Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gattaca [12 April 2012].
Gradner, A. (2003) AS and A Level ICT Through Diagrams, Oxford University Press.
Heathcote, P.M. (2005) ‘A2’ ICT, Walsall, West Midlands: Payne Gallway.
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Task :
Part 1 (15%) Report – to be given to the manager.
To ensure that you understand the issues involved, before being employed, the manager has asked you to write a report on the ethics of such a device (the hardware and the easy to use software) in terms of its use.. You must keep in mind that without a simplified user interface to the complex software of the device, it could only be used by trained medical staff.
He has asked you for this report to clarify what ethical issues will be relevant to you, an IT professional, as you will be employed by him. You are not to concern yourself with other ethical issues of the device, as that is outside your expertise and, understanding the other issues, is the manager’s responsibility.
You should report from the viewpoint of potential stakeholders (e.g. members of the ACS, businesses, general public, various government departments etc) in terms of at least 3 of the ethical theories discussed by Dr Grant Mooney in his lectures (slides 24‑28, PMP lecture 3). Why might these stakeholders agree or object to this proposal?
The report should also discuss the ethical IT issues in relation to the ACS code of ethics and code of conduct.
Although the company is currently thinking of implementing this service in Australia, it may want to use the software in other countries – you should also look at at least one other ethical code of conduct, for example that of the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS), the US Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) or the New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) . Differences between these ethical guidelines should be discussed in relation to the report.
