Computer Science 199r
Special Topics in Computer Science
Computation and Society: Privacy and Technology

Syllabus for Spring 2007

Case studies of areas in which there are perceived conflicts between personal privacy and computer technology. Which of these conflicts are real? Which could reasonably be addressed through changes in policy or technology? Areas include RFID, surveillance, biometrics, medical records, data aggregation and data mining.

The course is open to all students. We especially encourage students from economics, engineering, political science, computer science, sociology, biology, law, government, and philosophy.

Administrative Stuff

Class: T-Th at 2:30-4pm in Maxwell Dworkin G-115

Instructors:

Prof. Michael D. Smith
Dr. Jim Waldo
Dr. Alon Rosen
Allan Friedman
Contact the instructors: cs199r-heads@eecs.harvard.edu

Course Administrative Assistant:

Tristen Hubbard
Maxwell Dworkin 239
617-496-7358
first-name at eecs.harvard.edu

Group assignments

The writing group assignments can be found here. Send corrections, additions, or deletions to the course heads.

Final project

Times and location of the final project presentations can be found at the top of the group assignments page. All presentations will take place on Wednesday, May 9th, in Maxwell Dworkin G125.

Directions for the final project can be found here. Send questions to the course heads.

A couple of comments on the FP proposal due Friday, April 13th. You should give a clear statement of the problem you've chosen to address. Please indicate your sources of information and summarize the findings of any prior work on your problem. Tell us what you expect to accomplish, both first goals and stretch goals. If you're undertaking a prototype, please discuss its relevance to the question at hand.

The final project reports are due Monday, May 14th, at 5pm.

The final project reports can be found here.