CSC 379/SUM07-2/Assignments

Temporary page for assignments for CSC 379, SUM07-2.

This page contains the research assignment topics (pending review).

New Topics

Net Neutrality

commerce/anticompetitive/broadband

As things are right now, all traffic on the Internet is treated the same. However, more recently, telecom companies and ISP's have been trying to push legislation through congress that would allow them to create a "tiered Internet" and charge more for certain content (e.g., every time a user does a Google search in a neighborhood serviced by TimeWarner, Google would be charged). Provide an overview of the issue, the opposing views, and the consequences it could bring if implemented.

Anti-Competitive Databases

commerce/anticompetitive/databases

If a corporation provides a product or service, and also controls one of the major on-line databases that direct customers to suppliers of that product or service, a conflict of interest arises that tempts the corporation to use the database to steer customers unfairly toward its own business. One of the early examples was Baxter International's database of medical supplies. Nowadays, most of the press is garnered by airline databases that can list the proprietor's flights more prominently than competitors', or even make it hard for consumers to find out what a competitor offers. Recently, independent travel agents and travel Websites have become concerned that the major airlines are going to band together to "steal" business through their own Orbitz travel Website. Note: This topic is not about database privacy. No credit will be given for a page that deals with privacy issues.

Existing Topics

Ethical Principles

basics/principles

This page is about ethical principles, and should draw heavily from philosophy-related sites. The topic page is in good shape, though rather sparse. It should be enhanced substantially. The Study Guide falls out of format toward the bottom of the page.