Work and the Workplace

1. Work and the Workplace Jessica DolD Molly Lisiewicz Bridget Minihan Jacqueline Smith

2. Terminology • Computer Science: an academic discipline that studies the design and implementation of algorithms. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving well-defined problems. A precise description of a technique for putting words in alphabetical order is an algorithm. • Ethernet Card: hardware that allows a computer to be attached to a network of computers. • Memory Chip: an informal term for RAM or just plain memory. • Microcomputer: another name for a personal computer. • Operating System: the collection of programs that controls all of the computer’s hardware and software. Important operating systems are Windows XP and Unix. • Program: a sequence of instructions that tells a computer how to accomplish a well-defined task. • Programming Language: the notational system that a programmer uses to construct a program. This program is transformed by another program, known as a compiler, into the instructions that a computer can execute. Important languages are Java and C ++.

3. Computer software engineers • Computer software engineers are among the occupations projected to grow fastest and add the most new jobs over the 2008-18 decade, resulting in excellent job prospects • Job is to design and develop software • they develop theories and principles of computer science and mathematical analysis to create • 40 hours per week, injuries are rare • must keep up to date with latest technology • design computer games, business applications, operating systems, network control systems, and middleware • test and evaluate software applications and systems that make computers work (write programs) • Use telecommunicating, which allows for more work to be done in remote locations • Work in clean, comfortable offices or labs with computer equipment • Computer software engineers and computer programmers occupied 1.3 million jobs in 2008 • Median annual wage in may 2008 for computer software engineer, $85,430 • Employment of computer programmers is expected to decline by 3% through 2018 because of offshoring

4. Out of time: programming life • Programming is difficult because computers take everything you say at face value • A computer program is an algorithm that must be written down in order and in programming language • Programming is translating between the chaos of human life and the line-by-line world of computer language • Programmers work for hours on end without stopping and must not be interrupted or else they will create “bugs” (errors in what they are typing) • They are not connected to “real time”; they spend most of their time at the computer and stay up all night working. Because of this many of them have poor social skills. • There are two types of codes: • Higher Codes - create programs called “applications”, which are things that people use • Lower codes - only able to be understood by computers and other programmers - to be paid more and gain more respect as a programmer, one must create lower codes instead of higher ones • Programmers are also referred to as “software engineers” • They create “graphical interfaces”, which are crash-proof systems • Keep anything alarming from happening on your computer (you could pound on the keyboard, for example, and the system wouldn't crash) • “Interactivity” is the dialogue that occurs between a human being and a computer program -Programmers have made interactivity a worldwide occurrence by creating interactive “on- demand” services - With interactivity, we can order movie tickets, watch movies or make hotel reservations online without ever leaving the computer

5. Agree/disagree? • Agree - It explains a lifestyle similar to those of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and computer programmers. This research is important to college students because it shows how necessary technology is in our society and that it is always improving and expanding.

6. Women, math, computing • In 1996, almost 39% of medical degrees and 43% of law degrees were going to women. This brought about the question as to why are so few studying computer science? • The Communications of the ACM published an article entitled “The Incredible Shrinking Pipeline” which pointed out that the fraction of computer science degrees going out to women decreased from 1986 to 1994. • A study of German women noticed that the sharp increase in the number of degrees in computer science going to women followed the commercial introduction of the microcomputer in the early 1980s. • Although there have been numerous attempts to explain why women do not find computer science as appealing as young men, it is important to know that computer science is unlike that of physics, chemistry, mathematics and electrical engineering. • Computer Science does not have an agreed-upon body of knowledge that defines the field. Due to this, computer science is far less mature than other scientific and engineering disciplines. • Many studies have shown that girls are consistently less confident about their abilities in mathematics and science that are boys, even when their test scores show them to be more able. This can be associated with the perception that computing is a male domain.

7. agree/disagree? • Agree - Woman are not choosing computer science for various reasons. Mainly, the article mentioned that Computer Science is being considered a “male domain” due to the research classifying men showing a higher confidence in math and science compared to women who show higher intelligence with language as well as the arts. However, I do not agree with this research. I believe that gender does not have an effect on the subject matter one shows higher intelligence with along with the career he or she chooses to study.

8. Dilbert’s of the world, unite! • White-collar sector is rapidly growing • Between 1977 and 2004 the number of professional and high-skilled US workers more than doubled • Government predicts that 1/3 of all employment growth between now and 2012 will be in the white-collar sector • WashTech • An organization formed by Marcus Courtney to get high-tech workers to vote to form unions so they can collectively bargain for improved wages, benefits, and job security. • Encountered 2 failed organizing attempts, one at Microsoft and one at Amazon.com • In 2007 WashTech had 1,500 dues-paying members and an email list of 17,000 subscribers • The Fantastic Four • A quartet of dishonest story lines that play to tech workers unique self-image and discourage full participation in the uprising • H -1B • An IRS-tax-form kind of term, at the heart of the Great Labor Shortage Lie • H-1B program allows employers like Microsoft to bring in temporary foreign workers for high-skill jobs created in 1990 by Congress • H-1B employees are paid an average of $13,000 a year less than American workers in the same job in the same state • Today, Microsoft ranks third in the country among companies hiring H-1B’s

9. Agree/disagree? • Agree - I agree with this research because white-collar jobs are becoming more available due to the rise of technology. This article is important to college students because in a way it lets us see an insight to the future and what jobs will be available.

10. How deep can you probe • Many employers going online to check out job candidates, does this practice carry hidden risks? • Some question whether it is ethical, responsible or legal • Employers need consent for background checks, would be safe to do the same for online checks • Must be careful of how much they collect to formulate opinions, can lead to discrimination • Could be hit with a claim • Many states limit extent to which employers can consider off-duty conduct in making a hiring decision • Information could be false

11. Discussion questions • Do you think that fewer women are choosing careers in computer science due to the idea it is a “male domain”? • How is the average American lifestyle becoming similar to that of a computer programmer? • Do you think employers cross a boundary when looking up their employees online?