Computers and Society

Cyberspace is the virtual environment created by interconnected computer networks, mainly the Internet. It lets people communicate, share information, learn, work and conduct business without physical boundaries. Examples: sending emails, using social media, online banking, digital learning and e-commerce. Along with speed, convenience and global connectivity, it brings challenges such as cybercrime, privacy issues and misuse of information.

Cyber ethics refers to the moral issues and decisions involved in the responsible use of online technology. It covers data privacy, online security, digital communication and responsible use of technology. It is important because actions in the online world have consequences just as in the physical world, and cyber ethics guides users to behave responsibly and morally, supporting a safe and trustworthy cyberspace.

Privacy, cyber security, digital footprint and online behaviour, and the digital divide.

Privacy is an individual's right to control personal information in the digital world. Many online services collect personal data such as name, location and browsing habits, sometimes without clear permission. Protecting privacy means data is collected transparently, stored safely and used only for the right purpose.

Ethical concern: personal information being misused, shared without consent, or exposed through weak security.

Cyber security protects computers, networks and personal information from unauthorised access, misuse of data or attacks. Ethical cyber security means using technology responsibly: creating strong passwords, avoiding harmful activities like hacking, respecting the security of others' devices and information, reporting suspicious activities and supporting others who face online threats.

A digital footprint is the trail of information a person leaves behind while using the internet: browsing history, social media posts, comments, and data collected by websites or apps. It may be shared knowingly or collected without direct awareness. Because it shapes a person's online reputation and can be permanent, it should be managed by thinking before posting, protecting personal information and managing privacy settings.

Online behaviour is how people act on digital platforms. Good behaviour includes polite language, avoiding cyberbullying, respecting others' opinions, and not hacking or plagiarising.

Plagiarism is stealing someone else's work, ideas or words and presenting them as your own without crediting the creator. It is unethical because it takes credit for another person's effort and violates their rights.

• Think carefully before sharing content online.
• Protect personal information and use strong passwords.
• Adjust privacy settings on social media.
• Verify information before sharing; avoid suspicious links.
• Behave respectfully towards others.
• Log out from shared devices.
• Regularly review online activities.

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do not. It arises from differences in internet access, devices and digital skills, often linked to economic, geographic or social factors.

Effects: students with online access can improve their academic skills, while those without fall behind; most job applications are now online, so adults without access lose opportunities. It increases inequality and the risk of data breaches for underprivileged users with no secure tools.

Reducing it: equal access to devices and the internet, digital literacy training, affordable technology and connectivity, and community centres and public access facilities.

A key aspect of cyber ethics: principled guidelines for respectful, responsible online interactions that protect privacy, promote fairness and prevent harm.

• Think before posting: avoid offensive, misleading or fake content; use polite language; fact-check to stop misinformation.
• Ensure privacy and mutual respect: never share personal data, tag without permission or post compromising photos/videos; give credit; respect diverse opinions without cyberbullying.
• Avoid harmful actions: avoid spamming, stalking; report abusive content; do not dominate discussions.
• Follow platform-specific rules: clear subject lines in e-mails, no loud media playback in public, muting the microphone in online meetings when not speaking.
• Build accountability: update privacy settings, install security software, treat online spaces like real life, and ensure legal compliance.

(1) Fact-check content and avoid sharing fake or offensive posts. (2) Never share personal data or tag people without their permission, and respect their opinions without cyberbullying.

IPR protect creations of the human mind such as inventions, literary works, designs and symbols, and give creators exclusive rights to use, sell or license them, normally for a limited period. They encourage innovation by rewarding creativity while balancing public access. In IT they safeguard software, algorithms, databases, websites and digital innovations, prevent unauthorised copying, encourage investment in research and development, and promote fair use while discouraging piracy.

Patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, and semiconductor integrated circuits layout design.

A patent is the exclusive right granted for an invention: the legal right of an inventor to control the production and sale of a mechanical or scientific invention for a limited period. In India the term is 20 years from the date of filing the application. After it expires, the protection ends and the public can use the invention freely.

Copyright is a legal right given to creators for an original work. It covers books, music, painting, sculpture, films, advertisements and computer software, including rights for reproduction, communication to the public, adaptation and translation. Under the Indian Copyright Act a work is automatically protected when it is created (registration gives it a legal status), and the general rule is that copyright lasts 60 years after the death of the last surviving author.

Piracy is the illegal copying, distribution or use of copyrighted material without the owner's permission, such as downloading or sharing movies, music, software, books or videos without a valid licence.

A trademark is a unique word, logo, symbol, name, slogan, shape, colour combination or design that identifies goods or services of one business and distinguishes them from others. It must be registered; the initial term is 10 years, after which it can be renewed. It protects brand reputation, prevents consumer confusion and fights counterfeits.

The ornamental or aesthetic aspects of an article, such as its shape, surface, patterns, lines or colour; for example the outer shell of a mobile phone, the shape of a soft drink bottle or the exterior of a vehicle. Protection in India lasts an initial 10 years from registration, extendable by a further 5 years.

Goods with a specific geographical origin that have qualities or a reputation attributable to that place. Only goods made in that place can carry the name, protecting the craft from imitation and preserving cultural heritage. Protection lasts indefinitely if renewed.

Examples from Kerala: Aranmula Kannadi (handcrafted metal-alloy mirror from Aranmula), Palakkadan Matta rice, Kuthampully Silk, Vazhakulam pineapple.

The layout design is the three-dimensional arrangement of elements such as transistors, resistors and interconnections in an integrated circuit. The law grants creators of original and distinctive layout designs rights to prevent others from copying, reproducing or commercially using the design without permission. This encourages innovation in the semiconductor and electronics industry. In India the protection period is 10 years.

(a) Copyright; (b) Trademark; (c) Geographical Indication; (d) Industrial design; (e) Patent.

Electrical and electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life: computers, laptops, smartphones, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, batteries, circuit boards, printers and chargers. It is one of the fastest-growing types of waste because technology changes rapidly and people frequently replace old devices.

E-waste contains hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants and arsenic. These can leak into soil and groundwater or release harmful fumes when burned, causing environmental pollution and health risks such as respiratory problems, skin diseases and nervous system disorders.

Lead (Pb).

It increases the demand for powerful data centres, high-performance computers and frequent hardware updates. This leads to higher electricity consumption, which increases carbon emissions and contributes to environmental pollution.

Any two of:

• Reuse and repair: use devices longer by repairing instead of replacing.
• Donate or sell old devices: give working devices to schools or charity, or sell them.
• Proper recycling: dispose of e-waste at authorised recycling centres.
• Buy eco-friendly products: durable, energy-efficient, recyclable products.
• Avoid frequent upgrades: do not replace gadgets just because new models are trendy.

Green computing is the practice of reducing the environmental impact of computers and related technologies. It focuses on saving energy, reducing pollution and managing e-waste properly, so that technology is safe, efficient and friendly to nature.

Any two of: switch off devices when not in use; use power-saving features; save paper through e-billing, electronic documents and cloud storage; recycle old gadgets through authorised e-waste collection centres; choose energy-efficient devices such as LED lighting and Energy Star certified appliances.

Computers and digital devices consume large amounts of electricity, and generating that electricity increases carbon emissions and pollution and uses up natural resources. Green computing reduces energy use (power saving, switching off idle devices, energy-efficient hardware), which lowers costs and slows environmental damage.

Green computing encourages buying durable, energy-efficient products, repairing and reusing devices, and recycling through authorised centres, which reduces the amount of e-waste and the toxic substances released into the environment. Reusing and recycling also reduce demand for new devices, so fewer raw materials are mined and natural resources are conserved. Saving paper through digital documents conserves forests and other resources.

Sample list: Home – old mobile phones, chargers, broken earphones, batteries, a non-working TV or radio. School – faulty computers, keyboards and mice, old monitors, printer cartridges, projector parts. Surroundings – discarded batteries and bulbs, damaged electronic appliances in shops or repair centres. Then conduct an awareness class and campaigns for reduction and safe disposal.

As a response to the problems of proprietary software, such as restrictive licensing, lack of transparency and vendor lock-in. The movement proposed that source code should be freely available for anyone to view, use, modify and distribute.

Proprietary software is owned and controlled by an individual or company; its source code is not available to users, who may not modify, copy or distribute it without permission and may use it only under the licence terms. Examples: MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, Norton Antivirus.

FOSS examples: Ubuntu, Mozilla Firefox, LibreOffice (also GIMP, VLC Media Player, Python, MariaDB).

• Richard Stallman: founded the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation.
• Linus Torvalds: created the Linux kernel.
• Eric S. Raymond and Bruce Perens: co-founded the Open Source Initiative (OSI) to promote open source to the business world.
• Christine Peterson: credited with coining the term "open source".

Linus Torvalds.

Cyber ethics: transparency (anyone can inspect the code), fairness and equal access (free to use, which helps reduce the digital divide), respect for users' freedom and sharing, and collaboration based on credit and licences rather than piracy.

Innovation: a global community can study, improve and share code, so software evolves quickly, bugs and security issues are found and fixed faster, and new tools can be built on existing ones without starting from scratch.

Devices, software and computer systems designed to support individuals with disabilities or special needs. It includes both hardware and software solutions, many of which are now built into modern operating systems and smart devices.

Education, employment, governance and communication depend heavily on computing, so inclusiveness is essential. Without it, technology can exclude people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments and widen the digital divide. Assistive technology helps users interact with digital systems independently, safely and with dignity; it promotes digital equality, reduces dependency on others, ensures ethical and responsible use of technology, and empowers people with disabilities to participate fully in learning, work and social life.

By removing barriers faced by people with conventional input and output devices: screen readers let visually challenged users use computers, captions help people with hearing loss, text-to-speech and on-screen keyboards help those with speech or motor difficulties. Because accessibility features are now built into operating systems, smartphones and web platforms, everyone can take part equally in learning, work and social life.

A digital footprint is the trail of data a person leaves while using the internet; the digital divide is the gap between people who have access to digital technology and those who do not.

Switch off idle devices, enable power-saving modes, use e-billing and cloud storage instead of paper, choose energy-efficient (Energy Star) devices, and recycle old gadgets through authorised e-waste centres.

• Illegal copying of copyrighted material is called piracy.
• Patent term in India: 20 years from filing.
• Aranmula Kannadi is protected as a Geographical Indication.
• Incineration temperature range: 900 to 1000 °C.
• Founder of the GNU project and Free Software Foundation: Richard Stallman.
• Stealing someone's words or ideas as your own: plagiarism.
• Software that screen readers and magnifiers belong to: assistive technology.

Cyber ethics asks us to protect privacy, practise good online behaviour and use social media responsibly. IPR respects creators and discourages piracy. Green computing and e-waste management protect the environment. FOSS promotes sharing and collaboration. Assistive technology makes digital society inclusive. Together these make a safer, more equitable and sustainable digital world.