by Anna Elizabeth Kuruvilla

Computer ethics is the analysis of the nature and the social impact of computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of technology. Ethics cover both social as well as personal policies for the ethical use of technology.

The policy vacuum is a commonly faced problem while dealing with computer ethics. Another difficulty in the path is the conceptual vacuum. This enhances the registration of an analysis, which facilitates a coherent conceptual framework within which one has to formulate a policy for action. This will aid the determination of programs and instances of the same program. But in the barrier of coherent conceptual framework too, policy formulation through computer technology will be tough. The distinction and identification of what has to be done, and understanding about the situation are not to be linked with computer ethics.

Ethics is a dynamic and complex field of study, which takes into account, the relationships between facts, conceptualization, policies and values with regard to the ever changing computer technology. It is neither a fixed set of rules nor the application of ethical principles to a value-free technology.

Ethics about the usage of computers is a discipline, which depends on science and ethics, a field in between them, which facilitates both conceptualizations for understanding and policies for the effectual use of computer technology

Computer Revolution

The Computer Revolution can be broadly classified into two stages namely the introduction stage and the premeation stage.

The introduction stage occurred during last 40 years during which electronic computers were created and refined.

The permeation stage, in which computer technology will become an integral part of institutions throughout our society. This stage and associated futuristic changes will raise new questions on Computer Ethics, which will require the implementation of more flexible and specific policies. The very core of Computer Revolution is logical malleability. They can be shaped and moulded to do any activity that can be featured in terms of inputs, outputs and connecting logical operations. The logic of a computer is the raw resource of the Computer Revolution. It is the universal tool, which takes the user to a boundless world of creativity. So logical malleability is an important characteristic to be considered, which sets up policies.