AP CSP topic 5.1
Beneficial and Harmful Effects
Computing innovations can help and harm at the same time. A navigation app saves time but can send heavy traffic through quiet neighborhoods. Effects can be intended or unintended, and some only show up after an innovation spreads widely. Responsible developers think about who might be affected, not only the people the product was designed for.
Beneficial and Harmful Effects vocabulary
- Beneficial effect: A positive result of a computing innovation.
- Harmful effect: A negative result, which may affect people the creators never considered.
- Unintended consequence: An effect the creators did not plan or predict.
- Impact: The effect an innovation has on society, the economy, or culture.
AP-style practice questions
Try each one, then open the answer. To save your progress, take this quiz in the interactive course.
A navigation app sends drivers around traffic jams. It begins routing large numbers of cars through a quiet residential street near an elementary school.
1. Which of the following is an unintended harmful effect of the app?
- (A) Drivers save time
- (B) Increased traffic and safety risks on the residential street
- (C) The app shows maps
- (D) Drivers can share their location
Show answer
(B) Increased traffic and safety risks on the residential street The extra traffic was not planned and harms people who are not even users.
2. Which of the following is true about computing innovations?
- (A) They have only beneficial effects
- (B) They can have both beneficial and harmful effects, some of which were not intended
- (C) Their effects are always predicted before release
- (D) They only affect the people who use them
Show answer
(B) They can have both beneficial and harmful effects, some of which were not intended Innovations often have mixed and unexpected effects.
3. A social media app shows users more posts similar to ones they liked. Which of the following is a possible harmful effect?
- (A) Users see content they enjoy
- (B) Users may mostly see views that match their own and miss other perspectives
- (C) The app loads faster
- (D) Users can find friends
Show answer
(B) Users may mostly see views that match their own and miss other perspectives Recommendation systems can create filter bubbles.
4. Before releasing a new app, which of the following is the most responsible step for developers to take?
- (A) Think about how the app could affect people beyond its intended users
- (B) Make the app as addictive as possible
- (C) Skip testing to release sooner
- (D) Collect as much personal data as they can
Show answer
(A) Think about how the app could affect people beyond its intended users Responsible computing considers impacts on everyone who might be affected.