Beneficial and Harmful Effects
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| computing innovation/kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ | computing innovation |
| beneficial/ˌbenɪˈfɪʃl/ | beneficial |
| harmful/ˈhɑːmfl/ | harmful |
| unintended consequences/ˌʌnɪnˈtendɪd ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz/ | Effects of an action or policy that were not its intended objectives. |
Good and bad at once
- Every computing innovation 计算创新 — a new piece of software or hardware — can have both good and bad effects.
- The same tool often helps and harms at once.
- So we should never assume an innovation is purely good or purely bad.
- The AP exam asks you to weigh both sides.
A computing innovation is:
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It can have both good and bad effects.
One effect, different views
- A single effect can be beneficial 有益的 to some people and harmful 有害的 to others.
- A ride-sharing app is great for riders and drivers — but hurts traditional taxi firms.
- Who benefits and who is harmed often depends on where you stand.
- Fair evaluation names both groups.
Computing affects the public's wellbeing in several ways
Beneficial, harmful, or unintended?
The same innovation can benefit some and harm others, and can bring unintended consequences its creators never planned.
The same innovation can be beneficial to one group and harmful to another.
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A ride-share app helps riders but hurts taxi firms.
Beyond the intended purpose
- An innovation can have effects beyond its intended purpose — uses its creators never planned.
- These surprises are called unintended consequences 意外后果.
- They can be good or bad, and often appear only once many people use the tool.
- Thinking ahead about them is part of responsible design.
Effects an innovation's creators never planned are called unintended ______.
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They can be good or bad, and appear as people use the tool.
A navigation app recording everywhere each user goes is mainly a:
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That data can be sold or leaked, harming users.
To judge an innovation fairly, you should:
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Most innovations carry benefits and harms together.
Unintended consequences of technology are always harmful.
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False. Unintended consequences are effects beyond the intended purpose, and they can be beneficial as well as harmful.
Weigh both sides
- To judge an innovation fairly, weigh its benefits against its harms.
- Do not assume it is all good or all bad.
Navigation apps. Built to help people find their way — a clear benefit. But the same app records everywhere each user goes, which can be sold or leaked (a privacy harm), and heavy re-routing can flood quiet streets (an unintended consequence for residents). One innovation, benefits and harms together.
Every computing innovation can be both beneficial and harmful — often to different people at once (a ride-share app helps riders, hurts taxis). It can also bring unintended consequences beyond its intended purpose. Judge an innovation by weighing both sides, never assuming it is purely good or bad.