Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues: ISC Class 11 Notes

What Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues is about

Weightage: Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues is topic 13 of the ISC Class XI Computer Science syllabus, in Section C - Python and Conceptual aspects. CISCE weights Section C at 15 of the 70 marks in Paper I (Theory). Class XI is examined by the school, so your school sets the paper within this weightage.Source: CISCE ISC Computer Science syllabus, examination year 2028, Class XI unit weightage

Key concepts

Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of computer systems to perform tasks that normally need human intelligence: learning from data, recognising patterns (images, speech), understanding language, making decisions and predictions.

• Machine learning: systems improve by learning from examples rather than following hand-written rules.
• Uses: voice assistants, recommendation systems, medical image analysis, language translation, fraud detection, self-driving features, chatbots and generative AI that writes text or creates images.
• Issues: bias (unfair results if training data are biased), privacy (large data collection), job changes, misinformation and deepfakes, accountability (who is responsible for an AI decision?), and the need for transparency.

Internet of Things (IoT): a network of everyday physical devices fitted with sensors, software and connectivity that collect and exchange data over the internet and can be controlled remotely.

• Examples: smart meters, fitness bands, smart home devices (lights, locks, cameras), connected vehicles, smart agriculture sensors (soil moisture), smart city traffic systems.
• Benefits: automation, remote monitoring, efficiency (saving water and energy).
• Issues: security (weak default passwords make devices easy to hack), privacy (constant data collection), dependence on connectivity.

Worked example

Suppose a farm's soil sensors send moisture readings to a phone app, which switches the water pump on automatically. Identify the technology and one risk. [2 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Connected sensors and devices exchanging data and acting automatically: Internet of Things.
2. Risk: an attacker who hacks the system could switch the pump on or off, or the data could be misused (security and privacy).

Answer: IoT; a risk is unauthorised control or misuse of data through poor security.

Virtual reality and augmented reality

Virtual reality (VR): a fully computer-generated, immersive environment that replaces the real world; the user wears a headset and interacts using controllers or body movement.

• Uses: training simulations (pilots, surgeons), virtual field trips, games, architecture walk-throughs.

Augmented reality (AR): digital information or objects overlaid on the real world, seen through a phone camera, tablet or smart glasses; the real world remains visible.

• Uses: navigation arrows on a live street view, trying furniture in your room through an app, interactive textbooks, maintenance guidance for technicians.

Basis	VR	AR
Environment	Entirely virtual	Real world plus digital overlay
Device	Headset (blocks the real view)	Phone, tablet or glasses
User's surroundings	Hidden	Visible
Example	Flight simulator	Furniture-preview app

Issues: motion sickness and eye strain, cost, privacy (cameras scanning surroundings), safety when the real world is blocked.

Worked example

A medical student practises surgery on a fully simulated patient wearing a headset; a technician sees repair steps overlaid on a real machine through glasses. Classify each. [1 mark]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Fully simulated environment: VR. Digital steps on the real machine: AR.

Answer: Student: virtual reality; technician: augmented reality.

Cyber security, privacy and netiquette

Cyber security is the protection of computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorised access, attack, damage or theft. Its goals are often summarised as confidentiality (only authorised people see data), integrity (data are not altered wrongly) and availability (systems work when needed).

Common threats: malware (viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware), hacking, password attacks, phishing, identity theft, denial of service.

Safe practices: strong, unique passwords and a password manager; two-factor authentication; software and antivirus updates; backups; not opening unknown attachments; secure (HTTPS) sites; locking devices.

Privacy: the right of individuals to control their personal information: what is collected, how it is used and with whom it is shared. Threats include oversharing on social media, tracking by apps, data breaches. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 governs how organisations process personal data.

Netiquette (network etiquette): rules of polite, responsible behaviour online: be respectful; avoid all-capital messages (seen as shouting); do not spread rumours or forward unverified content; respect others' privacy (no sharing of others' photos or details without consent); give credit when using others' work; avoid cyberbullying and trolling.

The program below rates passwords by length and character variety and estimates the brute-force search space (number of possible passwords of that kind).

// Rates a password by length and the kinds of characters used, and estimates how many
// guesses a brute-force attack would need (size of the search space).
public class PasswordStrength
{
    static String rate(String p)
    {
        boolean lower = false, upper = false, digit = false, symbol = false;
        for (int i = 0; i < p.length(); i++)
        {
            char c = p.charAt(i);
            if (Character.isLowerCase(c)) lower = true;
            else if (Character.isUpperCase(c)) upper = true;
            else if (Character.isDigit(c)) digit = true;
            else symbol = true;
        }
        int pool = (lower ? 26 : 0) + (upper ? 26 : 0) + (digit ? 10 : 0) + (symbol ? 32 : 0);
        double space = Math.pow(pool, p.length());          // possible passwords of this kind
        int kinds = (lower ? 1 : 0) + (upper ? 1 : 0) + (digit ? 1 : 0) + (symbol ? 1 : 0);
        String verdict = (p.length() >= 12 && kinds >= 3) ? "strong" : (p.length() >= 8 && kinds >= 2) ? "medium" : "weak";
        return p + ": pool " + pool + ", search space " + String.format("%.2e", space) + ", " + verdict;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println(rate("sunshine"));
        System.out.println(rate("Sunshine2026"));
        System.out.println(rate("R!ver-Tea-42-Kite"));
    }
}

Output:

sunshine: pool 26, search space 2.09e+11, weak
Sunshine2026: pool 62, search space 3.23e+21, strong
R!ver-Tea-42-Kite: pool 94, search space 3.49e+33, strong

A simple rule can be fooled: 'Sunshine2026' is rated strong, yet a common word plus a year is easy to guess with a dictionary attack. Unrelated random words or a password manager are safer.

Worked example

An 8-letter password uses only lower-case letters. How many possibilities are there, and how long would an attacker making 10¹⁰ guesses a second need to try them all? [2 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. 26⁸ = 208,827,064,576 ≈ 2.09 × 10¹¹.
2. 2.09 × 10¹¹ ÷ 10¹⁰ ≈ 21 seconds.

Answer: About 2.09 × 10¹¹ possibilities, tried in roughly 21 seconds: such a password is weak.

Spam, phishing and digital arrest

Spam: unsolicited bulk messages (e-mail, SMS, social media), usually advertising, sometimes carrying malware or scams. Use spam filters, do not reply or click unsubscribe links in suspicious mail, and report spam.

Phishing: a fraud in which attackers send fake messages or create fake websites that look genuine (a bank, a delivery company, a school) to trick people into revealing passwords, OTPs, card details or into installing malware. Variants: smishing (SMS), vishing (voice calls), spear phishing (targeted).

Signs: urgency or threats ('your account will be blocked'), spelling errors, mismatched or odd web addresses, requests for OTP or PIN, too-good-to-be-true offers.

Digital arrest: a scam in which fraudsters, posing as police, CBI, customs or other officials, contact a victim (often by video call), claim the victim is involved in a crime (for example, a parcel with drugs in their name), declare that the victim is under 'digital arrest', keep them on the call for hours or days, and demand money to 'clear their name'. There is no such thing as a digital arrest in Indian law: genuine agencies do not arrest people over video calls or ask for money transfers.

What to do: disconnect, do not pay, verify independently, and report to the cyber-crime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

Worked example

Suppose your grandfather receives a video call from a 'police officer' in uniform who says he is under digital arrest and must transfer money to avoid jail. What should he do? [2 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Recognise the scam: no Indian law allows arrest by video call or payment to avoid arrest.
2. Disconnect, do not pay or share details, and report on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

Answer: It is a digital-arrest scam; end the call, pay nothing, and report it to the cyber-crime helpline 1930.

Intellectual property: copyright, patents and trademarks

Intellectual property (IP) means creations of the mind (inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, names and symbols) over which the law gives the creator exclusive rights for a period.

Copyright: protects the expression of original works (books, music, films, art, computer programs). In India, under the Copyright Act, 1957, software is protected as a literary work; protection is automatic on creation (registration is optional but useful as evidence) and generally lasts for the author's life plus 60 years. Copyright protects the code as written, not the underlying idea.

Patent: protects a new, inventive and industrially applicable invention (a process or product). It must be applied for and granted; it gives exclusive rights for 20 years from filing in exchange for publicly disclosing the invention. Under India's Patents Act, 1970 (Section 3(k)), a computer program per se is not patentable, though an invention involving software with a technical effect may be.

Trademark: a name, logo, symbol or slogan that distinguishes a business's goods or services (registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1999; ™ for claimed marks, ® for registered marks).

Basis	Copyright	Patent
Protects	Expression of a work (code, text)	An invention (idea put into practice)
Obtained	Automatically on creation	Only by application and grant
Requirement	Originality	Novelty, inventive step, industrial use
Term (India)	Author's life + 60 years	20 years
Software	Code protected as a literary work	Program per se not patentable

Worked example

Suppose a programmer who wrote a game dies in 2000. Until when is the game's code protected by copyright in India? [1 mark]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Term = life + 60 years, counted from the year after death: 60 years from 1 January 2001.

Answer: Until the end of 2060.

Software licensing, piracy, FSF and open source

A software licence is the legal permission that sets how software may be used, copied, modified and distributed.

• Proprietary (closed-source) software: source code is kept secret; users buy a licence to use it under restrictions (no copying or modifying).
• Freeware: free of cost but usually without source code.
• Shareware: free trial, pay to continue.

Software piracy: unauthorised copying, distribution or use of software (using cracked versions, installing one licence on many computers, selling copies). It is illegal (copyright infringement), harms developers, and exposes users to malware.

Free Software Foundation (FSF): founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman. Its position: software should respect users' freedom, not merely be free of cost ('free as in free speech, not as in free beer'). The four freedoms: to run the program for any purpose; to study and change it (needs source code); to redistribute copies; and to distribute modified versions.

Open source software: software whose source code is publicly available and can be used, modified and shared under an open-source licence (examples: Linux, Firefox, LibreOffice, Python). It stresses the practical benefits of collaboration (quality, security through many reviewers, low cost).

Types of licensing:

• GPL (GNU General Public License): a copyleft licence: anyone may use, modify and share the software, but modified versions that are distributed must also be released under the GPL, with source code. Freedom is passed on.
• BSD licence: a permissive licence: use, modify and redistribute freely, even in closed-source products, as long as the copyright notice and disclaimer are kept.

Worked example

A company modifies GPL-licensed software and wants to sell the modified version without releasing its source code. Is this allowed? Would it be allowed under a BSD licence? [2 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. GPL is copyleft: distributed modifications must be under the GPL with source code, so closed distribution is not allowed.
2. BSD is permissive: closed-source redistribution is allowed if the copyright notice is kept.

Answer: Not under the GPL; yes under a BSD licence (keeping the notice).

Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
• Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing

Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues: syntax and key facts

Password search space

Possible passwords = (size of character pool) ^ (length)

Pool: 26 lower-case, 52 letters, 62 letters and digits, about 94 printable characters.

Brute-force time

Time = search space ÷ guesses per second

IP terms in India

Copyright: author's life + 60 years; patent: 20 years from filing; trademark: renewable every 10 years

Four freedoms (FSF)

Run + Study and change + Redistribute + Distribute modified versions

Licence types

GPL = copyleft (share alike); BSD = permissive (keep the notice)

Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues: diagrams to practise

Practise each one on paper: draw it from the checklist, then tick off every label.

How the school exam asks Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• VR replaces, AR adds

  V for 'virtual everything'; A for 'add a layer'.

  Use it when: VR vs AR.

• CIA of security

  Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability.

  Use it when: Goals of cyber security.

• Copyright copies, patent invents

  Copyright protects how it is written; a patent protects what is invented.

  Use it when: IP differences.

• GPL passes it on; BSD lets it go

  Copyleft keeps code free downstream; permissive does not insist.

  Use it when: Licence types.

Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section D style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 5-mark question split into 2 + 2 + 1 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Saying 'free software' means software that costs nothing

  The FSF means freedom (run, study, share, modify), not price.

  ✓Do this: Free as in free speech, not free beer.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Writing that software is patented in India like any invention

  A computer program per se is not patentable under Section 3(k) of the Patents Act; code is protected by copyright.

  ✓Do this: Code → copyright; technical invention involving software → possibly a patent.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Confusing VR and AR

  VR replaces the real world; AR adds to it.

  ✓Do this: Ask: can the user still see the real surroundings?

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Treating 'digital arrest' as a real legal procedure

  It is a scam; no law allows arrest by video call.

  ✓Do this: Describe it as a fraud and give the reporting route (1930).

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

Practice questions on Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level

   Which licence requires distributed modified versions to be released under the same licence?
   (a) BSD
   (b) GPL
   (c) Freeware
   (d) Proprietary

   Hint

   Copyleft.

   Answer

   (b) GPL.

2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   What is netiquette?

   Hint

   Online manners.

   Answer

   The set of rules for polite, respectful and responsible behaviour on the internet.

3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerExam level

   Give one example each of IoT and AR in daily life.

   Hint

   Connected device; overlay.

   Answer

   IoT: a smart energy monitor that sends electricity readings to the supplier automatically. AR: a phone app that shows how a sofa would look in your room.

4. Q4 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   State four signs that a message may be a phishing attempt.

   Hint

   Urgency, links, requests.

   Answer

   Urgent threats or deadlines; unknown or misspelt links and sender addresses; requests for OTP, PIN or passwords; spelling mistakes or offers that are too good to be true.

5. Q5 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   What are the four freedoms defined by the Free Software Foundation?

   Hint

   Run, study, share, improve.

   Answer

   Freedom to run the program for any purpose; to study how it works and change it (requires source code); to redistribute copies; and to distribute copies of modified versions.

6. Q6 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   Why is software piracy harmful? Give three reasons.

   Hint

   Law, developers, safety.

   Answer

   It is illegal (copyright infringement); it deprives developers of income needed for development and support; and pirated copies often carry malware and get no security updates.

7. Q7 · 2 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   A password of 6 digits is used for an app with no limit on attempts. How many possibilities are there, and why do apps lock after a few wrong attempts?

   Hint

   10 choices per position.

   Answer

   10⁶ = 1,000,000 possibilities, which a program can try very quickly. Locking after a few attempts makes brute-force guessing impractical.

8. Q8 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   Distinguish between VR and AR on three bases with an example of each.

   Hint

   Environment, device, surroundings.

   Answer

   Environment: VR is fully computer-generated; AR overlays digital content on the real world. Device: VR uses a headset that blocks the real view; AR uses phones, tablets or glasses. Surroundings: hidden in VR, visible in AR. Examples: a flight simulator (VR); navigation arrows on a live camera view (AR).

9. Q9 · 5 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Suppose a fitness band records your heart rate, sleep and location and shares them with an app company. Discuss the benefits, privacy risks and steps you can take.

   Hint

   IoT, data, consent.

   Answer

   Benefits: health tracking, early warnings, motivation, data for doctors. Risks: sensitive health and location data could be sold, leaked in a breach, or used to profile you; location tracking may reveal routines. Steps: read and adjust privacy settings, limit sharing, use strong passwords and two-factor login, keep the app updated, and choose companies that follow data-protection law and let you delete your data.

10. Q10 · 10 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    'Open-source software is more secure than proprietary software.' Debate this statement.

    Hint

    Many eyes vs resources.

    Answer

    For: source code is public, so many developers can review it and find bugs ('many eyes'); fixes are released quickly by the community; users can audit the code; no hidden backdoors can be concealed easily. Against: visibility of code also helps attackers find weaknesses; some open-source projects have few active maintainers, so flaws can remain unnoticed for years; proprietary vendors may have large paid security teams and formal support; security depends on updates, configuration and user behaviour more than on the licence. Conclusion: neither model is automatically more secure; well-maintained software of either type, kept updated and used carefully, is secure, while neglected software of either type is not.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.AI means?Show answer

   Computer systems performing tasks needing human-like intelligence.

2. 2.IoT means?Show answer

   Everyday devices with sensors and connectivity exchanging data.

3. 3.Cyber-crime helpline in India?Show answer

   1930 (cybercrime.gov.in).

4. 4.Copyright term in India?Show answer

   Author's life + 60 years.

5. 5.Patent term?Show answer

   20 years from filing.

6. 6.GPL vs BSD?Show answer

   GPL copyleft; BSD permissive.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐AI: learning, recognising, predicting; issues of bias, privacy, accountability.
• ☐IoT: connected sensors and devices; security risks from weak passwords.
• ☐VR replaces reality; AR adds a digital layer.
• ☐Security: CIA, strong passwords, 2FA, updates; privacy and netiquette.
• ☐Spam (bulk unsolicited), phishing (fake messages for details), digital arrest (fake-official scam; report 1930).
• ☐Copyright (code, life + 60), patent (invention, 20 years), trademark; FSF four freedoms; GPL copyleft, BSD permissive.

Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues: frequently asked questions