CS 192 - Modules 11-13: Answers to Questions

1. What is computer crime?
In my opinion, I consider computer abuses as computer crimes when these abuses have gone far beyond the laws of the local or national (or even international) government. Computer crimes are unethical and have broken privacy issues as much as computer abuses. In addition, these involve theft, copyright infringement, and pornography using the information communications technology.

2. Give an example of a computer crime not stated in the Computer Ethics blog. (http://cs192computerethics.blogspot.com)
One example of a computer crime is Cyberstalking. The perpetrator uses the information communications technology to stalk the victim in a way that he invades the privacy of his victim.

Some methods would include gathering personal information about the victim, from social networking sites or even email messages. Most cyberstalkers intend to defame their victim such as creating fake profiles in the name of the victim and claims that are usually degrading to the victim. In some cases, cyberstalkers would blackmail their victims and ask them for money or return of personal affections and the like.

Cyberstalking is very much a computer crime because it is closely related to real life hostage taking and hold-up cases.

3. Visit this site. http://www.crime-research.org/news/09.07.2008/3443/ 
This is the site that features the first Hacking crime being filed in the Philippines.
Question:
What is state in section 33a of Republic Act 8792?
It is stated there that going through sensitive information of a computer system/server using unauthorized access, without the knowledge and consent of the owner, with the pursuit of altering, stealing or destroying the information or server is punishable with a fine of P100,000.00 or 6 months to 3 years imprisonment.

This includes unauthorized hacking and introducing viruses to the system resulting to the corruption, destruction, alteration, theft or loss data within the server.

4. In Visayas State University, there is an office that deals with protecting the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of thos who publish their intellectual output works. What is this office that caters with IPR concerns? Who is the head of this office?

The Office of the Director for Research and Extension or more known as ODREx handles the Intellectual Property Rights of intellectual output works of the university. Specifically, it is in the Intellectual Licensing Office (ILO) where they deal with these concerns. The head of ODREx is Dr. Othello Capuno, the VP for research and extension.

CS192 - Answers to Questions 2

1. Visit this site.
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/pubs/docs/RespComp/rchandbook.html
This is about the student handbook on computing for the students of Virginia University. Read and understand their handbook.
a. If you are to become a part of the VSU team who will formulate a handbook like that of Virginia University, give at least 2 policies that you want to be implemented in VSU or even just for CS students like you, regarding computing. Also include sanction or sort of punishment to those who will violate the said policy.

• Unless instructed to do so, students or any computer user will refrain from changing the current settings of the computer, such as changing the resolutions, adjusting the colors or any form that will alter the state of the computer. This includes downloading from the internet, and installing and uninstalling software. Any violation against this policy will render one hour of community service.

• Students will not access files or websites with malicious content using the computer. These are frequently found in pop-up advertisements and spam in e-mails. Any devices to be read by the computer must be scanned and cleaned of suspicious files. This is to avoid corrupted files from harming the computer. The last user of the computer found to be infected with a computer virus will be subjected to questioning. If guilty, the user will pay a percentage for the service fee of repairing the computer.

2. According to the definition of ethics, it can be connected to the norms or custom of the society. What could be ethical to one, could be unethical to another. If this is the case, in which ethics seem to be subjective in nature, why is there a need to study computer ethics at all? Support your opinion with facts.

• One of the reasons is because studying computer ethics will make us behave like responsible professionals. We still need to contribute to the community and this is one of the least things we can do. By doing so, we can avoid computer abuse and catastrophes. We can protect ourselves from devastating effects of computer technology. Furthermore, because of the involvement of computers in human conduct, there is a creation of new ethical issues, unique to computing, that do not surface in other areas, such as phishing and spamming. If these will not be taken into consideration, then there will be no progress in the community, and the whole realm of computer technology will be lost.

3. There are 4 types of non-jural law. Divine, natural, moral and physical. If you are to practice just one type of the non-jural law for the entire existence of your life, what would it be and why?

• I would have to choose moral law. I am a human being and I cannot avoid the fact that I make mistakes. However, being able to do the right thing will make me feel better than having to do something which will seem right for others, even if it's a mistake. It does not matter how people will perceive me as long as I know I am doing the right thing to others, and to myself. Pretending not to do something, just for the sake of others is not a good thing. Being myself is a lifestyle that I will have to follow in order to live. As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn, until you can say 'I am what I am.' " However, there is a difference between being myself and being rude. Surely, I can monitor that.

CSI: Crime City on Facebook

Facebook has been supporting apps on its website so that users will have more ways of meeting people. Most apps found in Facebook are for gaming purposes such as Farmville, Restaurant City, Mafia Wars, and Ninja Saga.

Like those apps, this new game developed by Ubisoft, makers of Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell, is similar to the game CSI on consoles. It's called CSI: Crime City which has the same investigative tactics on the TV shows.

The Crime Scene

All you have to do is click on cells and see if it contains evidence. Clicking on a regular cell will cost 6 energy points depleting your energy bar. There are different kinds of cells which might have blood traces, print details, or fibers. Clicking on these special cells will consume higher energy points. It will require a specific tool, which you can buy, before clicking one of these special cells. The better upgrade of the tool, the less energy it consumes. Once your energy bar is empty, you will have to wait until it refills over time. However, you can buy items for energy points. (Buying in real money, not an option for me T_T). You can also consume coffee for energy from either your friends laboratories or the tiles you clicked. Clicking on cells will also earn you experience points to "up" your level. It can also give you in-game money so you can customize your laboratory, etc. Clicking on cells will also give out pieces of memorabilia and add it to your collection. Completing the collection will unlock certain items, pretty neat!

The Laboratory

Your laboratory will contain different stations for analyzing evidence you find on the crime scene. Each evidence will go to a specific station to uncover details and continue with the plot. Analyzing will take some time and will need you to wait. However, you can upgrade the stations so you wouldn't have to wait that much and add more slots to analyze evidence. You can customize your laboratory by buying items at the store and change your wallpaper, floor, desk, etc.

You can add your friends so you can visit their laboratories and get a free coffee for energy points! You can also use their stations to analyze your evidence in case your stations are full.

Although this is still a beta game, the developers are on it to making this better. It still lacks customizing yourself on how you appear in-game. It is enjoyable and would suffice if you're bored and have nothing else to do. This app is worth the try and you might find yourself sitting for 2 hours just playing this game. The more friends you have playing this game, the longer is your playtime. Solving mysterious cases and following interesting storylines can be very exciting in this game.

Merry Christmas!

The importance of this nativity scene is to remember what happened 2000 years ago (more or less). When Someone was born to spread the word of God, to bring peace and save us all. I hope you have your own nativity scenes at home or at the workplace.

Christmas is the time when family members reunite and broken bonds mend. It's the season to strengthen your relationship with people by spending time with them. Hope you shared your midnight Christmas meal (Noche Buena) with your loved ones.

Christmas wishes are sent to different people whether they're known or not. It's the way you share with them your feeling of happiness this holiday season. Merry Christmas to you! May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this holy season, and throughout the year! Wish your Christmas be filled with peace and love.

CS192 - Answers to Questions

1. What would you like to be 5 years from now? (hopes, aspirations, wishes...)

 

Interplay's Battle Chess

I have been dreaming of becoming a video game developer ever since I was introduced to computers. Video game developers are those software developers who focus in developing video games. They may specialize in a specific console like PSP, XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii, etc. The first video game that I played was 3D Battle Chess where the chess pieces look like people rather than regular chess pieces. Another game that I played during my childhood years was Spooky Castle. A 3D action-adventure game filled with puzzles set in a magical realm. When I reached my teenage years, I was introduced to the virtual life simulation game called The Sims. I watched video clips of interviews of the game developers and that made me aspire for their profession. I listened as they told their viewers how they programmed the game.

Taking the course of Computer Science made me experience programming and prepare me for tougher programming exercises. Although I still have a long way to go, taking this course is definitely a stepping stone to reach that goal.

2. If you will be a full-pledged computer programmer 5 years from now, what program would you do? and why?

As a full-pledged computer programmer, I will develop my very own video game. Video games serve as a form of entertainment for the people. It could also be for educational purposes. Whatever the case, the video game that I will develop will be for the good of the community.

Pacman, one of the ancestors in gaming industry

Video games have been evolving as the decades go by. From the plain digital table tennis game, Pong, to the real-life table tennis in Wii Sports where a person must move as if playing the actual table tennis. Video game developers have also produced popular characters like Mario, Donkey Kong, Pacman, and Pikachu. I would like to contribute to the video game industry by making my own video game and introduce new gaming styles and characters that might reach the fame of its ancestors.

3. If you are a machine, what would you be and why?

Personal computers have changed people's lives

If I were a machine, I would be a personal computer. Personal computers have been helping the human civilization in more ways than you can imagine. These amazing inventions have improved our way of life. We can now do things we never thought we could do using PCs. We can create images through computers using software. We can communicate through computers using the power of Internet. We can even play interactive games through computers thanks to the creative minds of video game developers. The thing that I would really love about being a personal computer is that I will be able to entertain users in different ways depending on how they want to be entertained.

So it begins...

This blog was created, initially, for the purpose of answering questions posted in Topic Assessment Questions. It has questions about Computer Ethics to be posted by our instructor. The topics are found in Computer Ethics. Me and my group are assigned to Module 8 (Privacy Issues) and Module 9 (Social Justice Issues).

However, seeing the fact that if this was to be used solely for this purpose, it would be a waste. I can see the inactivity of this blog in the future. So I decided to make this blog be about everything that happens in my life. I will try to update this blog as much as possible if I have the time.

My classmates have started their own blogs as well. Here are some of them:

Kuchi-kuchi

Cornyx

Regular things, students neglect to do
Xixi
CS192 - Answers 

Visit the links at your own "risk".