The case of the Killer Robot

Attorney, hired to defend Randy Samuels.

Former programmer and analyst at Silicon Techtronics. She opposed the use of the waterfall model on the robot project and was fired for her honesty.

President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). She announces an investigation by the ACM into violations of the ACM Code of Ethics by employees at Silicon Techtronics.

Reporter for the Silicon-Valley Sentinel Observer. He interviewed Professor Harry Yoder in order to see how an ethicist would view the developments in the killer robot case. The interview was published in the Sentinel-Observer's Sunday magazine.

Professor of Computer Science and Related Concerns at Silicon Valley University. He sees poor interface design as a primary cause of the killer robot tragedy.

Graduate student at Silicon Valley University. She assisted in the investigation into quality assurance procedures at Silicon Valley University.

Robotics Division Chief at Silicon Techtronics. The Robotics Division needed a successful robot.

Anonymous newspaper source. She is the insider at Silicon Techtronics who gave the Silicon Valley Sentinel- Observer information about the group dynamics on the Robbie CX30 robot project.

Robot operator. A faulty computer program caused a Robbie CX30 robot to strike him dead.

Widow of Bart Matthews.

Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Silicon Valley. She brought the manslaughter charges against Randy Samuels.

Reporter for the Silicon Valley Sentinel- Observer. She was put on the killer robot story because of her reputation as an effective investigative reporter.

Professor of Physics at Silicon Valley University. He confirmed that Randy Samuels misinterpreted the robot dynamics equations.

Programmer. He wrote the program code that caused the Robbie CX30 robot to oscillate wildly, killing the robot operator, Bart Matthews.

CX30 Project Manager. Ray Johnson was his immediate boss. His background was in data processing, but he was put in charge of the Robbie CX30 project, much to Ray Johnson's chagrin. He was committed to the waterfall model of software development.

The robot. Robbie never had an unkind thought about anyone, yet he turned into a savage killer.

Professor of Software Engineering at Silicon Valley University. He conducted a review of software quality assurance procedures at Silicon Techtronics.

Professor of Software Psychology at Silicon Valley University. She saw Randy Samuels as a task-oriented person who was overly sensitive about criticism.

Attorney, hired by Sam Reynolds.

President and CEO of Silicon Techtronics. Placed Sam Reynolds in charge of Robbie CX30 project as a cost-saving measure. He contributed generously to Jane McMurdock's re-election campaign. He hired Dr. Silber to conduct an investigation into software quality assurance at Silicon Techtronics.

Chief Security Officer for Silicon Techtronics. He monitored electronic mail communications among the employees and thus exposed Cindy Yardley.

Programmer-analyst and spokesperson for the "Justice for Randy Samuels" committee. She defends Randy Samuels on the grounds that Silicon Techtronics was legally obligated to deliver a safe robot.

Silicon Techtronics employee and software tester. She admitted to faking software tests in order to save the jobs of her co-workers.

Samuel Southerland Professor of Computer Technology and Ethics. He examines the tension between individual and corporate responsibilities in an interview published by the Sentinel-Observer's Sunday magazine.