By Amy Johanna Norton
BYU professor Dan Olsen Jr. played a role in the U.S. Supreme Court?s decision Monday to overturn part of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling about Internet pornography.
Olsen, a computer science professor, is serving as an expert witness in the case. He said he feels strongly about keeping pornography off the Internet.
The Supreme Court ruled it is unconstitutional to restrict adults from Internet pornography, but still upheld the Child Online Protection Act as constitutional to censor Internet pornography against children.
The American Civil Liberties Union charges the Child Online Protection Act as unconstitutional.
Olsen said the best part of his court experience is he didn?t have to ?wallow in that mire.?
When Internet pornography became a concern, Olsen said there weren?t any computer science professors outside of BYU that would stand against pornography because being against it was unpopular.
?One of the things computer scientists have forgotten is, with the World Wide Web, it?s not about ?techno-geeks.? It?s everybody,? Olsen said. ?Computing is part of society, it?s part of the political process, it?s part of the way people communicate with their families, and it?s a place people live.?
Last month, Olsen received the Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction Lifetime Service Award for his contribution to the growth of computer-human interaction.
Olsen is improving the area of computer-human interaction with the use of cameras, computers and laser pointers installed in a home or office to create a smart room.
Parris Egbert, associate chair of the Computer Science Department, said he enjoys working with Olsen.
?He is excellent to work with, very bright, and has lots of creative ideas,? Egbert said.
Egbert said Olsen?s research isn?t theoretical, but solves real-world problems.
Ken Rodham, assistant teaching professor in the Computer Science Department, said Olsen is an excellent scholar who has blessed the lives of many through his work and example.
Olsen said he has raised $2 million in external research funds since 1987 for BYU. Olsen attributes the raised funds through constant proposals and donors to computer science research.
?I raise the money to feed the students. I don?t want good students to have to choose between their family and their education,? Olsen said.
