Impact of computing
Evaluate a computing innovation
Identify stakeholders, bias, privacy risks, and unequal access using a concrete scenario.
Algorithm examples use AP reference notation, including one-based list indices.
Benefits and harms can coexist
A navigation app may save drivers time while sending more traffic through residential streets. Identify who benefits, who bears a cost, and what evidence supports each claim. A consequence may be unintended even when the program works as designed.
Bias can enter through the collected data, the way a problem is defined, or a developer's choices. If a speech system is tested on only one accent, an overall accuracy figure may hide poor performance for other speakers.
Limit data and widen access
Collect only the personal data the task requires and explain who can access it. Encryption protects data in transit or storage, but does not decide whether an organization should have collected it in the first place.
The digital divide includes differences in connectivity, affordability, accessibility, and skills. An online-only service can exclude people without reliable access. Evaluate an offline alternative or accessible interface as part of the solution, not as an afterthought.
Check yourself
Does encrypting location data remove every privacy concern?Show answer
No. Collection, retention, access, and use still matter, even when the storage and connection are encrypted.
References used to build these lessons
We used these official documents as references when building this course's lessons. They are the sources for the syllabus structure and course requirements.
College Board · Effective fall 2023