Portfolio 5 - Researcher of Mind Mapping Device

Being a researcher of the brain mapping device, it is often a worrying matter that the discovery of mine will result to unethical abuses. It is therefore significant for me to predict the areas of usage of this device and create preventions for it. The areas of potential unethical abuses for the brain mapping device include the testing of children, testing of employee and the storing of a patient’s brain scan data.

Firstly, it is an unethical abuse to use the brain mapping device on children. By deciding the child’s fate based on the brain scan data, it is unfair to the child himself or herself. A talent in a child does not mean an interest to him or her. Parents should let their children to develop their own interest and help them to build their dreams to success. Therefore, brain scan should not be used on children to determine their fate, which is unfair to them; any areas of skills can be trained.

Secondly, it is also unethical to use the device on employee. Using the case of Nancy (Ethics and mapping the brain, Lou Marano), she was fired due to the brain scan showing that she is familiar to assault rifles. Despite her qualifications and skills, because of the brain scan results, she was rejected. Although assault rifle is familiar to Nancy, it does not mean she will do any harm. Thus, employer should not use the brain scan device to determine their chosen employees.

Thirdly, storing patient’s brain scan data is unethical. If the brain scan is used to help for treatment of brain related diseases, then it is forgivable. If after the treatment is done, and the brain scan data of the patient is still stored, then it might be considered as intruding the privacy of the patient. A brain scan data consists of all the information of a person. Therefore, the device should not be used to store a patient’s brain scan data, but to erase them after using it to treat brain related diseases.

From the three areas of discussion, they show the areas of potential unethical abuses. By knowing the areas of abuses, I can then set up preventions to them. In brief, the device should not be abused and I can approach the government to set laws and regulations to allow places such as hospitals to use them only.

Portfolio 4 - What difficulties do you have writing in your engineering classes?

After entering into university, I find certain difficulties in writing and adapting in engineering classes. Taking “CS1101C” as the discussion module for difficulties faced in engineering class; the reasons for difficulties are no background knowledge of the subject, too much variation in programming and insufficient time for practise. Firstly, I find it hard to adapt to the module as I do not have any background knowledge on C programming. Although the lecture pace is neither fast nor slow, the level of understanding needs to be high in order to excel in the subject. Thus in order to improve, I always read up the lecture notes before hand to get a brief knowledge of the upcoming lecture and clarify any doubts with the tutor after the lecture. Secondly, the reason for the difficulties is that there is too much variation in programming. When doing a program using the system, a program can be created through different standard of codes. Therefore, I am often unsure what the mistakes in a hand written program are. In order to improve, I often try to understand the written program by solving it like a maths question to find out the possible errors. Also, I will try to think of as many ways as possible how a program can be created and clarify with tutor for any uncertainties. Thirdly, due to the insufficient free time as lessons are quite packed, I often do not have much time to practise programming. As such, I will try to practise during my weekends to improve on the subject. Furthermore, I will try to organise my own timetable and find time for practise. In brief, to excel in a subject, we have much to do such as well organised timeslot, self-study and frequent practise.