The computer profession in the 1980's: An Orwellian interlude? (Panel Discussion)

ABSTRACT

Every day various news media report the increasing encroachment of data processing on the average person's life. People are beginning to fear that the computer will bring the horrors envisioned in George Orwell's prophetic novel, 1984. This fear is being fueled by the daily contact people have with poorly designed systems, the increasing frequency of spectacular computer related crimes, and the ever growing presence of computer assisted “snooping” by both the government and private industry. With such a public image, it is not surprising that there have been several efforts both on the national and state levels to license or regulate the data processing industry. Each of these attempts has been unsuccessful, but as time goes on the pressure will inevitably increase for the institution of some kind of formal control on the computer professional.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.7 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.7 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION
      K.7.3 Testing, Certification, and Licensing

General Terms:
Theory