Readings

The readings for this week center around engineering disasters and whistleblowing.

Engineering Disasters

These readings are about when mission critical systems failed disastrously.

1. Therac-25

   • The Worst Computer Bugs in History: Race conditions in Therac-25

   • Killed by a Machine: The Therac-25

   • An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents

     • An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents -- Part II

     • An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents -- Part III

     • An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents -- Part IV

     • An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents -- Part V

2. Challenger

   • CNN: Challenger Disaster Live on CNN

   • The Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster, 30 Years Later

   • How Challenger Exploded, and Other Mistakes Were Made

   • Remembering Roger Boisjoly, Challenger disaster whistleblower (1938-2012)

   • Whistleblowing: What Have We Learned Since the Challenger?

Whistleblowing

These readings explore two incidences of whistleblowing.

1. Boeing Computer Security:

   • Computer security faults put Boeing at risk

   • Boeing Employee Fired for Discussing Computer Security Problems at Company

   • Court OKs Firing of Boeing Computer-Security Whistleblowers

   • Boeing Whistleblower Firing Decision May Cut Off News Leaks

   • Boeing’s long history of whistleblowers and accounting investigations

2. Chelsea/Bradley Manning:

   • U.S. Intelligence Analyst Arrested in WikiLeaks Video Probe

   • Bradley Manning's Army of One

   • Bradley Manning Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison

   • Yes, I'll get gender surgery. But I may still be punished for my suicide attempt

   • Chelsea Manning to Be Released Early as Obama Commutes Sentence

   • In Defense of the Chelsea Manning Commutation

Literature

Maybe of interest. Maybe not:

• An Enemy of the People

Questions

Please write a response to one of the following questions:

1. From the readings, what were the root causes of the Therac-25 accidents? What are the challenges for software developers working safety-critical systems, how should they approach these projects, and should they be held liable when accidents happen?

2. From the readings, what were the root causes of the Challenger disaster? Was Roger Boisjoly ethical in sharing information with the public? Was his company justified in retaliating against him? What good is whistleblowing if "[i]t destroy[s] [your] career, [your] life, everything else"?

3. From the readings, what is your opinion of Boeing's handling of its computer security employees? Were these workers ethical in their leaking of information to the public? Was their firing rightful and warranted? Should these workers have been protected under the Whistleblower protection laws?

4. From the readings, what is your opinion of Chelsea/Bradley Manning's decision to leak sensitive information to WikiLeaks and her subsequent sentencing? Is what she did ethical or did she violate her duty? Should she have been protected under the Whistleblower protection laws? Is she a revolutionary hero or a traitor?

Feedback

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the course, please provide your feedback at the end of your response.