CS 485 – Week 8: Midterm Exam Solutions

All the following are possible solutions to these questions. There are just guidelines for what should be expected. However, there are other possible answers since these are essays questions. A student may bring up other good points that are not listed here and should be taken into consideration if their logic is valid. This exam is out of 65 total points and is recommended to be curved for the class.

 
  1. From the lectures on history of computing, write about three different machines/concepts and three different persons that helped develop computing. Describe each on in as much detail as you can. Only those people, machines, and concepts covered in the lectures are allowed. (10 pts.)

    Answers may vary. This question is asking to simply regurgitate the material learned. Look at Weeks 1 & 2 for possible answers.
     
  2.  “You are a computer systems manager. An employee is out sick and another employee requests that you copy all files from the sick person’s computer to hers so she can do her work.” Discuss some ethical implications of this scenario and some possible solutions. (10 pts.)

    Answers may vary. Possible ideas: Privacy, dependant upon expectations at a particular company, call the employee who is sick, request authorization from project manager. See handout from Week 2 for additional ideas.
     
  3. You run a small company that developed and markets a filter program to help parents filter out material they do not wish their children to access the Internet. A foreign government wants your company to develop a custom version of your program to be used on the country’s Internet connection to filter out material the government does not wish its citizens to access. Give arguments in favor of accepting the contract and arguments against it. Is it ethically wrong to accept the contract? Would you accept it? Why or why not? (15 pts.)

    Answers may vary. This answer mainly deals with social issues. A really good answer would mention the term social issue. A good answer is if the student answers all questions including their own opinion, with valid points. The question about ethically wrong should be supported with a why or why not (i.e. company has right to make money, social ethics are important to follow, etc.).
     
  4. Describe one current and one future application for Artificial Intelligence. (10 pts.)

    Answers may vary. See topics covered in Week 4 Lecture for all possible answers.
     
  5. Describe one of the ethical implications, related to computers, imposed by the film Hackers. (10 pts.)

    Answers may vary. Possible ideas: hacking, privacy, theft, etc.
     
  6. Answer two out of the three questions about The Soul of A New Machine: (10 pts.)
     
    • What was Tom West fighting for against the North Carolina branch of Data General for the Eclipse Group? What did he promise he could deliver first? (5 pts.)

      Key points:

      • he could deliver the 32-bit machine within a year
      • North Carolina said they could deliver within one year
      • Both knew in was not possible
         
    • Why was his management style effective with the Eclipse Group? (5 pts.)

      Key points:

      • describe his management style: aloof, abrasive, distant
      • effective because he had a cloud of authority
         
    • Did this book describe Data General as a brazen company? Why or why not? Cite specific examples. (5 pts.)

      Key points:

      • Data General was a brazen company
      • their advertisement plan
      • just wanting to get products out the door and not caring for customer service

      Really good answer would include a comparison with one of the other companies mentioned in the book such as IBM.
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