FIRST POST

Tutorial One- Information Technology and Ethical Issues.

Let us begin this Blog properly and in orderly fashion by an introduction. Hello and welcome to my Blog, My name is Hannah and I am a second year Occupational Therapy student a the Otago Polytechnic. This Blog is part of a  paper and is being used to assess my ability to produce a online resource package! 

My first post will cover the topic of information technology and the ethical issues. This post will cover the definitions, prevalence and commonplace in society, and my use of information technology (IT). I will also describe information technology in the field of occupational therapy and the ethics surrounding information technology.

The best place to begin is with a definition (That may not be the case in all situations but hey, its perfect for now!). According to my trusty dictionary, Information technology refers to the use of computers and electronic technology to store and communicate information (Collins, 2006). Techterms (2012) discussed that this encompasses any communication device or application, such as the television, mobiles phones, radios, internet, satellites, networks…. The list goes on.

My own view on info tech is that it is a vast network of applications and devices that allow us to communicate and share information. We no longer have to rely on face to face encounters to talk or share information and the time of the string can phone are definitely over! The broad arrange of technology portal allows us to receive gargantuan amounts of information at the touch of our fingertips. Literally.

Technology cannot easily be avoided in this day and age, adjusting with new and upcoming technology is a way to move forward and keep up with the times. It has become a fixture in everyday life from allowing instant communication with others to banking, shopping and even working. I can imagine the foreignness and amazement at information technology as it began to expand, but now it is commonplace. I know that for those in my generation information technology is prevalent in our home, work and social life. Turning to Facebook for a chat or to Google for knowledge comes as easily as breathing does to most.

How did we learn to use this technology in the first place?

Flashing back to the 90s where denim on denim and scrunchies were deemed acceptable by society, I remember the school computer labs where I learnt the basics of typing, Internet searching and the wonders of email. As I progressed from primary to secondary school, IT classes where compulsory for the first two years and then available to me as I continued through my education. All throughout my education I have been given the opportunity to advance in my knowledge and use of Information Technology. Whilst school played a large part in building a firm grounding in the uses of IT, IT sold itself through its efficiency and ease of being able to communicate and share information. IT developments opened endless possibilities for people to find others who have similar interests as them, no matter how far away. Online communities, such as Facebook groups, allow users to find one another and provide a space for them to discuss topics that are meaningful to them. IT offers interpersonal use in the same way as face-to-face communication does, but also the opportunity to engage in entertainment and knowledge. It is understandable how information technology has become so commonplace and prevalent in society. It offers society and easier and more efficient way of communicating and learning. It is in interesting to think that if information technology were a disease or illness we would have a pandemic on our hands.

I personally feel at home with almost all Information technology. Currently stuck in an “I love everything Apple” phase, my engagement in IT began a long time ago. From a young age I was interested in computers and phones. I used to be so fascinated and thrilled with the concept that I could pick up a phone and call someone hours away. I spent hours (unfortunately at the benefit of my parents phone bill) making toll calls to random people all over New Zealand. As Information technology became more advanced, I tagged along and made sure I knew the ins and outs of new software and devices. I remember transitioning between the stages from old desktops to laptops and ipads. As a teenager and now, social media is my most used piece of information technology. I use it more than my phone due it being free and that most people, though they will deny, check it religiously throughout the day. My comfortableness with the information technology I use expands my ability to learn about the world around me and communicate with others.

As an Occupational therapy student, being able to use the Internet and knowing the ins and outs of computer processing is important, as a decent chunk of our workload is online. The Internet offers me, as a student, the ability to obtain a large amount of knowledge pertaining to my field of study and expand on theories taught in class. This Blog in itself is a use of IT, and is marked as part of an assignment. In a social sense IT allows me to socialise and maintain relationships with people I no longer see on a day-to-day basis. Lastly it allows me to understand and learn more, which aids me in defining myself. Over all it allows or aids me in engaging in occupations that I find meaningful.

In occupational therapy practice, IT is an everyday tool; it is used for research, ordering equipment and for allowing people to participate in occupations. I can see that IT will be incorporated more into OT practice as the benefits become more apparent. As I mentioned before I am in an extreme Apple phase so this post would not be complete and would be horrendously unsatisfactory to the "Macgeek" in me if I did not mention the Ipad. The use of tools such as the Ipad allows individuals to participate in numerous occupations. These two videos show some of the apps available that OTs can use with their clients.

This video mentioned some apps that would be useful to OTs. It mentioned an app called the Locabulary. It allows people who are deaf to communicate by tapping on the customizable phrases allowing the app to speak for them. This app is a good way for deaf people to be able to communicate when the need assistance.

The second video had and app that would be a useful therapeutic tool for individuals with limited range of motion and stiffness in their hands.

Multiple devices such as Ipads, Iphones, Wii, wireless controls and other assistive technologies can be used in an Occupational therapist repertoire to provide meaningful occupations to clients.

Some issues can arise from using IT tools and systems in OT. Whilst it may look like a useful tool, OTs have to be sure that it is actually aiding the client. Things that look flashy and useful do not guarantee that they will do what is required. Also, as with most technologies, they are constantly upgrading. This could be costly to the department if upgrading is a frequent expense. Another issue with IT in OT is that there can be large amounts of training and understanding required to incorporate IT into practice, which could be frustrating and time consuming for OTs to learn.

I believe that a greater understanding and use of IT will help OTs in their practice. Without understanding IT or wanting to use it, OTs can limit their knowledge. IT is an expanding industry and OTs need to jump aboard to keep up with the times. The use of IT in OT practice is now a common, and broadens the opportunities for aiding clients. IT is now a main occupation for many clients and can be classified as important to them, therefore OTs need to be able to use and understand IT.

To finish I want to talk about the ethical implications around sharing, capturing and transferring information. The ethical implications that arise from capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices is plagiarism and privacy. IT is not fail proof, hacking is not uncommon and confidential information about clients can be leaked and made public. This is a breach of trust between you and the client or the client and the practice you work for. Having resources readily available to share amongst the Internet community such as journal articles and photos can lead to others plagiarizing work that does not belong to them. It is vital that when using sources from the Internet, they are referenced and not made out to be your own. Failing to do so could land you or your practice in trouble.

References:

Collins (2006). Collins school dictionary. Harper Collins Publishers.

Techterms. ( 2012). Infomation technology. Retrieved from http://www.techterms.com/definition/it

YouTube. (2011). Dexteria fine motor skill app. Retrieved on 20/04/2012 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqvtvBn3hzU

YouTube. (2011). Five occupational therapy apps for iphone. Retrieved on 20/04/2012 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86khS9PquwI&feature=related