This blog has been made as part of the Occupational Therapy course for second year students. This course hopes to provide people within the profession the ability to be aware of and use technology.
The Collins English Dictionary (2011) defines information technology as the production, storage, and communication of information using computers and electronic technology.
This definition shows the necessity of electronic devices in information technology and how the information is used.
Technology is extremely prevalent within today’s society. It is evident through things such as Generation Y who have been brought up with the technology of computers and how it is common to speak of “tagging it” in facebook or “youtubing.”
Searching the internet for information for university classes is also the norm. It is often presumed that students are completely able to use computers and information technology to find resources and references for their assignments.
I feel confident using programs such as Microsoft word, excel and powerpoint as well as using a web browser such as Mozilla or Google Chrome to access the internet. Common sites such as facebook, twitter, email, youtube, Polytechnic website and online banking are easy for me to access. Using tool such as Skype and MSN to connect with others online is something I am also familiar with and online shopping on various sites.
IT is commonly used in Occupational Therapy practice for researching diagnoses, looking for ideas for activities and can be used in a therapeutic form with some clients. On my first placement I saw my OT use a computer to type up her notes as well as research different client’s needs.
Some issues that there are about the adoption of IT systems in occupational therapy are that some people prefer to write out their notes by hand, some people don’t feel comfortable using the technology and it means that ocupational therapists may need to teach their clients or fellow colleagues how to achieve things through IT.
I could see IT used in some occupational therapy settings as a therapeutic tool for some children. Games that involve coordination on the computer may benefit the child as well as providing entertainment and enjoyment. Adults may find that one of their goals is to learn certain skills on the computer to help them record data or make their lives easier, i.e. teaching an elderly member how to shop for their groceries online so they don’t have to go to the supermarket.
It is important however to remember the stigma there is around technology – especially with the elderly as many see the technology as impossible to learn or “lazy.” Care needs to be taken when choosing which types of clients are appropriate for using IT within their treatment.
The main ethical implications that arise from capturing, sharing and transferring data via IT devices are reliability and permission.
Reliability of the information one looks for on the internet may not necessarily be completely reliable. Internet sites such as Wikipedia are information shared by the public and any person is able to edit the information.
Permission is another large ethical issue, for example a person in the background of a Youtube video may not necessarily give permission to others to share the video online.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines intellectual property as a product of the intellect that has commercial value, including copyrighted property such as literary or artistic works, and ideational property, such as patents, appellations of origin, business methods, and industrial processes.
This definition shows examples such as copyright and patents, which are an important part of securing one’s intellectual property. It is a right of an individual.
Dictionary.com describes social justice as the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society.
This relates to IT as social justice needs to be considered when dealing with ethical issues such as consent and permission from those involved.
The American Heritage dictionary defines informed consent as consent by a patient to a surgical or medical procedure or participation in a clinical study after achieving an understanding of the relevant medical facts and the risks involved.
Although this definition takes on a medical perspective, there are a few things one can pull from this definition that align with consent in terms of IT. The person understanding the facts and risks involved with IT as well as an understanding of their participation and how they will be affected by it.
REFERENCES:
· Collins: the dictionary meaning of information technology. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.collinslanguage.com/results.aspx
· Intellectual Property. (2009). Intellectual property. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/intellectual+property
· Dictionary.com. (2011). Social justice. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social+justice
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