Sexting

Emerging technologies if used practically and ethically can be used as tools to enhance, reinforce and support academia. However, as with anything that deals with communications people will find ways to circumvent decent morals and ethics to cause harm. It appears that the ones who are victims of such malicious acts of indecency, need some sort of support system to educate them on how to avoid this nonsense. We all have the responsibility to inform our kids, whether they are apart your family, community, school, church or civic organization, about the ethics of using emerging technologies.

I was astounded by the proliferation of "Sexting" as I watched the news videos. Just imagine if either of those kids were yours. How would you feel if someone was cyber bullying your kid. Worst what if one of those girls who committed suicide was your daughter. It is important that you explain and teach your children how to be responsible when using emerging technologies as communicative too. We have to take the initiative to police them so that they do not hurt others and worst themselves.

It is my opinion that the laws which are in place need to be revised or amended to help prevent people, especially kids from the unethical practices that pervades the internet such as cyber bullying. People have a tendency to justify the need and use of cell phones in schools because of events such as 9/11. I agree that some alternate form of communication is needed, in the event of a catastrophe.

I think concerned citizens should write to there congressman or congresswoman and demand that steps be taken to enact laws that will levy stiff punishment on people who commit unmitigated crimes of self fulfillment. It is our responsibility as a nation to help protect innocent victims who fall prey to unscrupulous acts by bullies who use emerging technologies to do harm to others.

Fair Use Of Copyrighted Material

Fair use of copyrighted material or intellectual property, deals primarily with the ethnics of using another persons creative works. It is unethical to use another persons creative work for your own personal gain or profit. Copyrighted material such as books, videos, images and software should only be copied or used by getting permission from the persons who owns the rights to the material

There are many legal issues relative to fair use of copyrighted material. Inappropriate use of this material without the owners permission can result in a lawsuit where the violator has to compensate the owner. For example; a teacher who copy a book to distribute to all of his students is in violation of fair use, even if the teacher does not charge the students for the books. The person who owns the copyright has to give permission to allow the teacher to do this. Of course I could give many examples of that would be a copyright violation.

The copyright law defines fair use differently for education. For instance, If for some reason I copy an article out of a book and distribute it to my class would be a legal act. However if I charged my students for the article, then I would be in violation of the fair use of copyrighted material.

Fair use is determined on a case by case basis. If you are not educated about what is and what isn't legal, then I suggest you make an attempt to do so. There are serious implications for violators.