Technologyand the LawR. Keith Booker, Ed.SMemphis East High School

Technology and the Law

• Computer• Internet

Computer Timeline

1946 – ENIAC Computer

• Assembly time – 3 years• Developed by the U.S. Army• 1800 sq ft, 30 tons• 17,468 vacuum tubes• $500,000

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”- Popular Mechanics, 1949

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”- Ken Olsen, Digital Equipment Company, 1977

Computer Timeline

July 1969 – Apollo 11 DSKY

• 74k memory• Hard-wire programming• No external storage• 65 lbs• $150,000

Computer Timeline

1975 - First “Portable” ComputerIBM Model 5100• 16k RAM• 5” monitor• 55 lbs• $19,975.00

Computer Timeline

1977 - First Personal Computers

• Commodore PET• Apple II• Radio Shack TRS-80

Computer Timeline

1981 - First Modern PCIBM PC• Dual 5-1/4” disk drives• 16k RAM• 80 x 24 text display• $1999.00

Computer Timeline

1982 - First Laptop ComputerGRiD Compass Model 1101• Magnesium alloy case• First plasma flat screen• 10 lbs• $8150.00

Computer Timeline

1984 – First GUI PCApple McIntosh Model M0001• 512k RAM• 9” monitor• 512 x 342 resolution• $2495.00

Computer Timeline

From 1975 - 1993• 134 models• 65 companies

• Timex• Mattel• Zenith• Panasonic

Computer Timeline

Today – Beyond PCs• Desktop• Laptop• iPad• iPhone

Internet1996 – Tennessee completes the Wired Project

Benefits• Expanded educational resources• Improved learning opportunities• Expanded teaching methods for

teachers

Internet

Challenges• Lack of built-in controls• Access to obscene or harmful material• Conducive to a hostile school environment

1996 – Tennessee completes the Wired Project

• Students have made bombs based on information found on the internet.

• School computer systems have been sabotaged by students installing viruses.

• Students have sent death threats to public officials via the Internet on school computers.

For example:

• Portland student created web site about his band director and made derogatory remarks. He was suspended from school, sued the district, and won a cash settlement.

• California student built a school parody web site. Scholarship recommendations were revoked, threatened to sue and settled out of court.

For example:

Common thread: Absence of policy

Student Use Guidelines• Computer use agreement / Parental

consent

• Use proper Netiquette

• No stand-alone sites

• All access approved by district

Preventive Policies

Student Use Guidelines• LEA-assigned user accounts

• Usage monitoring

• Understand copyright laws• Content is protected in fixed form

• Understand tort liability• Internet is NOT public domain

Preventive Policies

Employee Violations• Transmission of obscene materials

• Cyber stalking of student or adult

• Harassment of student or adult

• Perpetuating chain letters / spam

• Running sideline businesses from school

Preventive Policies

Employee Guidelines• Signed policy on acceptable behavior

• Observe proper Netiquette at all times

• Sexual / racial harassment training

• Pre-approval for downloads / installs

• Know and follow district guidelines

Preventive Policies

There is none.(even if it’s your personal

device)

Privacy on a school network?

No expectation of privacy Smyth v. Pillsbury Co. (CA No. 95-5715)

• Court ruled employee could be fired for communications made by employee to his supervisor over the company e-mail.

• Court said company attempts to prevent inappropriate and unprofessional comments or illegal activity over the email outweighed any privacy issues.

Email Privacy?

• Teach a code of ethics• Hacking is vandalism• Installing without purchasing is theft• Plagiarism

• Violations must be reported immediately

• Teach Netiquette

Prevention

QUESTIONS?