Introduction

Hi, welcome to the first lesson of Unit 5 CSP! We will be discussing the impacts of computing throughout this unit.

The main purpose of this article is to cover the material in the AP CSP CED. 

Computing Innovations: Good and Bad

Here’s how this cycle goes: people create computing innovations. Innovations usually have a positive connotation - think cell phones, TVs, cars. However, society usually adapts to incorporate innovations into their daily lives and may use these innovations in a manner that is not expected from anyone, even the creator. There are almost always going to be some sort of unforeseen drawbacks, causing people to use and see innovations with a different perspective. 

A teenager might argue that a phone is necessary, while a parent sees it only as a distraction to education. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that innovations have and will further impact our daily lives. Computing innovations have brought better technology to healthcare, communication, education, engineering, and other disciplines.

Unintended Consequences

Now, let’s think about unintended side effects of innovations. The World Wide Web was first created as a faster and easier way for the scientific community to share their findings and communicate. However, it has far exceeded its original uses and benefits the world with its various multipurpose everyday uses, whether it’s social media or digital currency. 

Another example is targeted advertising. From the perspective of a small business, it allows them to convert more sales, giving them a better chance to make a living. However, this data can easily be used for more malicious purposes. This example of trade-offs is common in everything around us, not just computing innovations. 

Responsible programmers try to take a look at the full picture when developing their innovations. But, given how vast of an impact it can have, it is simply impossible for a programmer to imagine every scenario. 

Practice