Topic
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) chip implant
Course Objectives
This assessment task relates to the following course objectives:
• understand the principles of the Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics to IT professional practice
• value and understand the legal, social and ethical issues involved in IT professional practice within a cultural context
Background
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) chip technology has been in existence for many years now. RFID chips have been attached to many items to enable the collection of information about the items, and to track the movement of items. RFID technology has been increasingly utilised in providing efficient and effective solutions for product tracking in the supply chain arena (http://rfidarena.com/2013/11/14/benefits-of-implementing-rfid-in-supply-chain-management.aspx). Other applications of the technology include library management, transportation management for perishable food and pharmaceutical drugs, and anti-theft processes in retail outlets. More recent applications of this technology include the embedding of RFID chips into animals and ultimately into the human body. A tiny chip can perform a variety of tasks in relation to the object the chip is attached to or embedded, including the storage of key information related to object.
In today’s world it is quite common with animals (e.g. cats and dogs) to be micro-chipped with ownership information. Proponents of utilising this technology in humans argue that there are many benefits to individuals and communities as a whole including providing ready access to health and medical information, the ability to locate missing persons, and the ability to track and monitor the activities of criminals or persons of interest (e.g. Sex offenders, Terrorism suspects). Opponents of the utilising this technology in humans point to security of information and privacy concerns, and the potential for this technology to result in a ‘big brother’ state where the state has the ability to track and control all citizens.
Requirements
Students are required to undertake an ethical analysis of the benefits and issues associated with RFID chip implants in a human context. Students will prepare an essay which analyses RFID chip implants in humans through the lens of each of the FOUR (4) ethical philosophies presented in lectures, and ONE (1) value selected from the Australian Computer Society’s (ACS) code of ethics.
When analysing RFID chip implants, consider ONE (1) of the following ethical dilemmas:
• Is the practise of implanting RFID chips into humans appropriate?
• How should the practise of RFID chip implants in humans be governed?
• Do the benefits of RFID chip implants for individuals, organisations and/or the broader community outweigh security and privacy concerns with RFID chip implants?
Essays should contain the following components in the structure indicated.
• title page
• abstract
• table of contents
• introduction
• ethical analysis of RFID chip implanted in the body of a human being
o utilitarianism
o deontology
o social contract
o character based
o ACS code of ethics
• conclusion
• recommendations (ITECH 7203 students only)
• references
• appendices
The introduction section should provide context and background on the issue of RFID chip implanted in humans. It should clearly indicate the dilemma being discussed and provide an overview of how you intend to address the problem and proposed solution(s).
The body section of the essay should contain an overview of each of the four ethical theories, and the ACS code of ethics. It should include a discussion and proposed solution for the dilemma, from each of the four ethical theoretical viewpoints, and the ACS code of ethics. The discussion should show an analysis and synthesis of research undertaken and your own ideas.
Writing should be validated with concepts from other people’s work. Gather these references from various sources such as the Internet, assigned text books and readings etc
Additional Task for Postgraduate (ITECH 7203) Students
Write a set of recommendations, on your overall preferred ethical approach for solving the ethical dilemmas posed, and include a discussion of the modern ethical approach in your answer. Explore each of the various options, and indicate why one option is preferred over another. Use references to validate your work.
Reading Materials
Weeks 2 and 4 study materials including lecture notes, tutorial problems and their solutions, online materials and relevant sections of the prescribed text.
Microchip implant (human) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(human)
2014 RIFD implants leading to 666 Mark of the Beast - End Times news prophecy update - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie69AWF_oD8
Tagging dad video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jExkLS_onuY
Ethical decision making - http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/ddhright.aspx?id=8548
Submission
Please submit an ELECTRONIC copy only via moodle. Please refer to the “Course Description” for information regarding late assignments, extensions, special consideration, and plagiarism. A reminder all academic regulations can be accessed via the university’s website
Assessment Criteria
ITECH 3203 Students
Students work will be assessed as outlined below:
• literature outline of each ethical theory, and a description and validation of the ACS code value selected and applied
• a discussion and analysis of ONE (1) ethical dilemmas (selected from the list provided), including a proposed solution for the dilemma through the application of each of the FOUR (4) ethical theories and the ACS code of ethics. A quality discussion will investigate multiple solutions, provide validation for the approach and incorporate the application of an ethical decision making model (see e.g. Beemsterboer, 2010; Velasquez et al, 2009 from week 1 lecture)
• an essay presented in accordance with the suggested structure between 2000 - 2500 words, which adheres to academic writing presentation standards as outlined in the university style guide, see: http://federation.edu.au/current-students/learning-and-study/online-help-with/study-skills-and-writing-guides. Includes a formatted reference list, and in-text references which comply with the FedUni’s guide for referencing. A quality piece of work will provide a range of references for example, books, journals, reputable websites etc, in-text references should be used in such a way as to provide validation for the work
Assessment Feedback
ITECH 3203 Students
Student
Elements Marking Scale
Poor Excellent
1 5
Outline of ethical theories & ACS code 0
Discussion & analysis – utilitarianism 0
– deontology 0
– social contract 0
– character based 0
– ACS 0
Academic writing & referencing 0
Total Mark [35 marks] 0.0
Total Worth [20%] 0.0
Comments


Assessment Criteria
ITECH 7203 Students
Students work will be assessed as outlined below:
• literature outline of each ethical theory, and a description and validation of the ACS code value selected and applied
• a discussion and analysis of ONE (1) ethical dilemmas (selected from the list provided), including a proposed solution for the dilemma through the application of each of the FOUR (4) ethical theories and the ACS code of ethics. A quality discussion will investigate multiple solutions, provide validation for the approach and incorporate the application of an ethical decision making model (see e.g. Beemsterboer, 2010; Velasquez et al, 2009 from week 1 lecture)
• an essay presented in accordance with the suggested structure between 2500 - 3000 words, which adheres to academic writing presentation standards as outlined in the university style guide, see: http://federation.edu.au/current-students/learning-and-study/online-help-with/study-skills-and-writing-guides. Includes a formatted reference list, and in-text references which comply with the FedUni’s guide for referencing. A quality piece of work will provide a range of references for example, books, journals, reputable websites etc, in-text references should be used in such a way as to provide validation for the work
• a quality conclusion, will draw together all the ideas that have been presented and validated. The detail should arise clearly from the data given in the body of the report, and explain why one conclusion is preferred to another, including reference to the modern ethical approach. Also include a set of recommendations indicating the preferred solution
Assessment Feedback
ITECH 7203 Students
Student
Elements Marking Scale
Poor Excellent
1 5
Outline of ethical theories & ACS code 0
Discussion & analysis – utilitarianism 0
– deontology 0
– social contract 0
– character based 0
– ACS 0
Academic writing & referencing 0
Conclusion & recommendations 0
Total Mark [40 marks] 0.0
Total Worth [20%] 0.0
Comments