VAST 200: Computers and Society  
Spring 2012


 
Matthew E. Taylor (Matt)
taylorm@lafayette.edu
AEC 522
 
Syllabus (Including required book list): Spring 2012
Update: You are encouraged to get feedback on your papers from other students.
Others cannot write the paper for you, but can give you advice (e.g., as is done in your WA meetings).
 
WA contact info is on Moodle (for privacy)
1978



Schedule
Date
Topic
Reading
Assignment
1/23 First day of class
SOPA/PIPA
   
1/25   Intro and Chapter 1: A History of Modern Computing (Ceruzzi)  
1/27   Chapters 2 and 3 of Ceruzzi  
1/30   von Neumann reading: see Moodle site Paper 1 topic handed out
(Rubric for paper 1)
2/1   Chapters 4 and 5 of Ceruzzi  
2/3 Revolution OS (1/2)    
2/6   Read chapters 6 and 7 of Ceruzzi Submit 10 questions / discussion prompts from the reading (or Revolution OS) by 8am on 2/6
2/8   Read chapters 8 and 9 of Ceruzzi Submit 2 discussion prompts to moodle from reading by 8am on 2/8 (and bring to class)
2/10 Revolution OS (2/2)    
2/13 Discuss Revolution OS   WA draft due Sunday at 11:59pm
(Doodle request from WA coming soon after)
2/15   Finish Ceruzzi book. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle site about reading or about earlier parts of the book.  
2/17
No Class
   
2/20   Read at least half of Rebuilt (Chorost)  
2/22   Finish Rebult, submit 2 questions via Moodle  
2/24 Ghost in the Shell: One Angry Man    
2/27 6th Sense   Final draft of paper 1 due Sunday 11:59pm
Paper 2 topic distributed
2/29 Digital Ownership Read the following essay and be prepared to respond in class  
3/2 Barbershop Punk    
3/5   Skim Baase: 1-27. Read Baase: 28-43.  
3/7      
3/9 Network Management Find 1 recent news article on net neutrality. What's new? What arguments from video are repeated? Post a 1 paragraph summary to Moodle.  
Spring Break
3/19 Robots at War   WA draft of paper 2 due by 11:59pm on 3/18
3/21 1
2
Wired for War: Skim chapter 1, Read chapters 2 and 3. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle (by 8am, 3/21).  
3/23 Enlist Now! WFW: Read chapters 4 and 5  
3/26 Guest Lecture by Prof. Nestor: Intellectual Property    
3/28 No Class WFW: Read chapters 6 and 7. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle (by 8am, 3/30)  
3/30      
4/2 Discussion with Lafayette ITS   Final draft of paper 2 due by 11:59pm on 4/1
Final Paper topic distributed
Group Project distributed
4/4 Stanley parking
Samsung Robot Sentry (2006)
Group Project groups
WFW: Read chapters 8 and 9. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle (by 8am, 4/4)  
4/6      
4/9 Guest Lecture: Prof. Cohen   Outline for final paper due by 11:59pm on 4/8
Read this short article for Monday's class
4/11   Attend 7pm talk on Thursday, 4/12  
4/13   WFW: Chapter 11  
4/16   WFW: Chapters 13, 15. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle by 8am  
4/18   WFW: Chapters 20, 21. Post 2 discussion questions to Moodle by 8am  
4/20 video 1
video 2
   
4/23     WA draft of final paper due by 11:59pm on 4/22
4/25   Kurzweil: Chapter 1  
4/27   Kurzweil: Read 35-51. Skim 51-111.  
4/30 Algorithmic Thinking   Final draft of group project due Sunday 4/29 by 11:59pm
5/2 Group Presentations: Crime and IP
Modern printer music
   
5/4 Group Presentations: Privacy and Freedom of Speech Read one of the three sections in chapter 5 of Kurzweil and send Matt a 1-2 paragraph summary. (Only required if you missed the Cyber Rape talk.)  
...
5/13     Final draft of final paper due at 11:59pm, Sunday 5:13